Ninigret Park
Ninigret Park is a Town of Charlestown park on Park Lane, a short drive from Burlingame State Park. It has a small swimming pond, Little Nini Pond, plus a 9/10-mile bicycle course, a separate 1.3-mile bike path, eight tennis courts, an 18-hole disc golf course, a dog park and a playground. The Frosty Drew Observatory inside the park holds public stargazing nights on Fridays.
Ninigret Park at a Glance
A Town Park, Not a State Park
Ninigret Park is run by the Town of Charlestown, not by RI DEM, and it is a separate place from the federal Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge next to it (refuge) and from Ninigret Pond on the coast (East Beach). The names are shared, but the managers and rules are not.
DEM pointed Burlingame campers to Ninigret Park in 2026 as a place to swim while the campground beach was closed for construction.
Swimming at Little Nini Pond
The park's swimming spot is Little Nini Pond, and the town ordinance lists "Little Nini Beach" at 150 Park Lane among its beach facilities, where smoking is banned. The Town's Ninigret Park page lists the pond but does not publish swimming hours or fees there, so check with Charlestown Parks and Recreation at Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail, before you plan a day around it.
Biking and Walking
- Bicycle course: a 9/10-mile course for bikes, walking, rollerblading and jogging. It is open to the public when it is not reserved for racing or special events.
- Bike path: a dedicated 1.3-mile path that starts from the parking lot near the Kid's Place Playground and is clearly marked.
They give riders a marked loop away from the roads and woods trails at Burlingame.
Sports and Play
- Tennis: eight courts open to the public.
- Basketball: courts next to the playground.
- Disc golf: an 18-hole course.
- A Kid's Place Playground for children of all ages.
Dogs
The park is home to the Ninigret Dog Park. That makes it the easy answer for dog owners in summer, when dogs are banned from the Burlingame Picnic Area and from the state and town beaches. See dogs.
Pavilions and Events
Ninigret Park has the Kimball Pavilion and a newer pavilion, both run by the town, plus the town's Senior Community Center. The town has a pavilion usage page with booking details, and organizations that want to hold an event in the park apply through the town's event page.
Frosty Drew Observatory
The Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center is at 61-62 Park Lane, inside Ninigret Park. It is run by the Frosty Drew Memorial Fund, a nonprofit with a volunteer board, paid for by memberships, private donations, grants and fundraising. The observatory says it keeps program fees as low as possible.
Its public program is Stargazing Nights on Friday evenings; its fall 2026 calendar lists them on most Fridays, with special events such as a Halloween night. Check frostydrew.org for that night's program before you drive over.
Getting There From Burlingame
Ninigret Park is on Park Lane in Charlestown, a short drive from Burlingame. The bike path starts at the parking lot near the Kid's Place Playground.
Good For
- A pond swim when the Burlingame campground beach is closed
- A marked bike loop for young cyclists
- Tennis or disc golf on a rest day from the beach
- Dogs that need room to run
Maybe Skip If
- You want a long woods hike: walk the Gormley Trail at Burlingame instead
- You want the ocean: go to Charlestown Breachway or East Beach
Ninigret Park FAQ
Who runs Ninigret Park?
The Town of Charlestown. It is a town park, separate from Burlingame State Park (RI DEM) and from the federal Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge next door.
Can you swim at Ninigret Park?
The park has Little Nini Pond, which the town lists as Little Nini Beach at 150 Park Lane. DEM suggested Ninigret Park as a swimming spot for Burlingame campers in 2026. Check hours and fees with Charlestown Parks and Recreation.
Is there a dog park at Ninigret Park?
Yes. The Town of Charlestown lists the Ninigret Dog Park among the park's facilities.
When is stargazing at Frosty Drew Observatory?
Frosty Drew holds public Stargazing Nights on Friday evenings, according to its calendar. Check frostydrew.org on the day for that night's program.
How long is the bike path at Ninigret Park?
The town lists a dedicated 1.3-mile bike path from the lot near the Kid's Place Playground, plus a separate 9/10-mile bicycle course open when not reserved for races.