Day 11 – Rhode Island Baseball Field Tour from Rumford to Bristol
Day 11 started with a tiny bit of sorrow. My 11th day of riding my bicycle through Rhode Island’s baseball fields and sports complexes would mark the end of a nearly 6 week adventure. Visiting baseball fields throughout the state of Rhode Island and showcasing the amazing work done by city and town workers, local volunteers, families who love baseball was one of my main motivations for this adventure. I knew one day I would finish my tour and that day was Sunday. Here is how Day 11 of my Rhode Island Baseball Field Bike Relay Ride went…
Rumford Little League plays its home games at Kimberly Ann Rock Sports Complex off Ferris Ave in East Providence. Their massive sports complex is the site of many friendship and charity baseball tournaments throughout the baseball season. I always enjoy meeting coaches, families, visiting their awesome snack bar, and catching a game at Kimberly Ann. This was a fantastic spot to start Day 11 of my baseball field tour and I had a gorgeous fall day with plenty of sunshine to brighten my mood.
From Rumford, I traveled towards Providence’s East Side, biking down Massasoit Ave, over the Henderson Bridge for an incredible view of the harbor and Seekonk River, through Wayland Square, left onto Gano St then down Power St to the home of Fox Point East Side Little League. The recreational park, Gano Park, features two baseball fields, soccer field, bike path access, community garden, just to name a few of its features. The baseball field as you enter the park has these two massive concrete bleachers, which I just love to check out. One has a huge mural painted on it. If you climb to the top of the bleachers, you get an awesome view of the East Side of Providence. Definitely worth checking out when you are in the Gano St section of Providence.
From Gano St, I followed the signs for the East Bay Bike Path, over the Washington Bridge in the bike lane, through neighborhoods of East Providence, and into the huge recreational facility housing Pierce Memorial Stadium and East Providence Central Little League. I parked my bike at Robert Rodericks Memorial Field, which was in fantastic shape, ready for baseball. Just to my right was Pierce Field, which hosted several RI State High School playoff games this past spring. The recreational fields at Pierce also include tennis courts, basketball courts, a football stadium, tons of open space, and always in great condition year round. Great visit to East Providence Central Little League.
From Pierce Field, I rode my bike through several neighborhoods, onto Wampanoag Trail, and make it over to Forbes Sports Complex, home of Riverside Little League. The gates were closed to the facility when I arrived and I later learned that league volunteers had been at Forbes working on the fields that morning. So I just missed an opportunity to see more of the fields and grounds of Forbes. I plan on connecting with league volunteers soon so I can get a closer look and video of the fields to share. Riverside Little League plays in District 2 and has a proud tradition of great baseball and outstanding volunteers. Stay tuned for a follow up on Riverside and Forbes Field really soon.
Short ride from Riverside over to County Road, then left onto Congress Rd and Sherwood Field, home of Barrington Little League. Barrington Little League captured the attention of not only Rhode Island Baseball, but the entire country this past summer as the New England representatives at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Sherwood is a wonderful neighborhood baseball field with a gorgeous wooden back drop surrounding the park. It has plenty of parking, plenty of great views of the field, and was in fantastic shape when I visited Sunday. Always great to visit Barrington to check out their baseball parks.
Any chance I can, I use the Rhode Island DOT bike paths. The bike paths in Rhode Island give you such a unique look at nature and landscape. I just love the safety and ease of access to them throughout the state. In Barrington, I was able to get right onto the East Bay Bike Path and follow it to Water St in Warren and the home of Warren Little League. Fred J Jannitto Baseball Park is a Rhode Island baseball field treasure. It is set just inside a quaint, Rhode Island neighborhood just about an outfielders throw to the water. There is plenty of shade for sitting and watching a baseball game, the field is always in great shape, and the tradition of baseball in Warren is just incredible. I love visiting this park and was so happy to make Jannitto Field part of my tour.
From Water St, I hopped back on the East Bay Bike Path and followed it to through Colt State Park, onto Poppasquash Rd, left on Washington St, and wound my way up through neighborhoods in Bristol to Veterans Memorial Park and the home of King Philip Little League. King Philip’s Veterans Park has tons of tributes, plaques, and memorials celebrating our military heroes throughout the park. It features two baseball fields, playground, tons of open space, concession stand, batting cages, and great views of the park. New elected KPLL President Jim Konz stopped by to say Hello and talk about the great work of his dedicated volunteer board members and coaching staff. The field had recently been worked on for Field Day and looked just amazing on Sunday. Great visit to King Philip Little League, great to meet Jim, and awesome finish to Day 11 of my Rhode Island Baseball Field Bike Relay Ride.
Stay tuned for a special recap of my Rhode Island Baseball Field Bike Relay Ride, a tour of 59 baseball facilities here in Rhode Island and close to 100 baseball fields. What an incredible joy it has been photographing, shooting video, riding from town to town and community to community these past several weeks. I am overcome with happiness seeing the incredible work done at these baseball facilities to make baseball a part of our Rhode Island community.
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The RIBBE is The Rhode Island Baseball Experience. It is promoting the game of baseball here in the great state of Rhode Island for the entire baseball world to see. The RIBBE is positive stories, photos, videos, and responsible social media posts. The RIBBE is an information resource for families looking for an AAU team or a summer camp or a great place to buy a first baseman’s mitt. The RIBBE is a network of coaches, tournament directors, parents, leagues, and baseball junkies whose passion of the game of baseball is unquestioned. I believe that providing expert analysis, information and directions to ballfields, and coaching advice from some of the top RI baseball minds will help promote the game of baseball here in RI to a whole new level.
The Rhiter - A Writer From Rhode Island 