Come Plant With Us and See What the Greenway Can Be in Johnston

There is a lot happening along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway in Johnston right now, and on Saturday, September 26, we’re inviting you to come see it for yourself and get your hands dirty with us.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., our Goldsmith Street Friends Group will meet at the Fish Ladder at 15 Goldsmith Street for a day of planting, restoration, and conversation about the Greenway.

Our River Rangers have been hard at work removing invasive plants, including mugwort and knotweed, from an area near the Greenway. Now comes the fun part. We get to plant something new.

Volunteers will help us add native serviceberry, juniper, and ostrich fern to the area. These plants will provide new habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife while helping us build a healthier landscape along the river.

No experience is needed. We’ll have the plants, tools, gloves, snacks, and people there to show you what to do.

More Than a Path

If you’ve spent time on the Greenway in Johnston, you already know that there is a lot more happening here than walking and biking.

At Goldsmith Street, thousands of native pollinator plants now fill a growing meadow alongside the river. Nearby, the Greenway connects people to the river, parks, neighborhoods, and natural areas that many of us might otherwise never get to experience.

These spaces also do some important work.

Native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife. Their roots help hold soil in place. Restored landscapes can capture stormwater, improve water quality, and help make the river corridor more resilient to flooding and extreme weather.

That is why our work on the Greenway has never been just about building a trail. It is about creating healthier spaces for both people and nature.

A Bigger Conversation About the Greenway

This volunteer day also comes at an important time for the Greenway in Johnston.

The Johnston Town Council recently passed Resolution 2026-32 opposing future expansion of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway. We just want the opportunity to show Johnston Residents what has already been accomplished, answer questions, and talk about the opportunities that future projects could bring to Johnston.

We know people have questions about what that means, what has been proposed, and why WRWC continues to believe in expanding the Greenway through Johnston.

One of the projects affected by this conversation is a proposed approximately one-mile connection between Johnston and Smithfield near Cricket Field and Sherman Field. The more than $12 million project would do much more than extend a trail. It would bring significant outside investment into Johnston while improving parks, addressing localized flooding, restoring habitat, improving water quality, and creating safer connections for people walking and biking.

 

Come See It for Yourself

You don’t have to know everything about the Greenway to join us on September 26. You don’t even have to come ready to volunteer for all four hours.

Come plant a few native plants. Walk along the river. See the meadow at Goldsmith Street. Talk with our staff. Ask us about Sherman Field or the proposed Greenway extension. Tell us what you like about the Greenway and what you would like to see in Johnston.

As WRWC Executive Director Alicia J. Lehrer puts it:

“The best way to understand what the Greenway can offer Johnston is to come out and experience it. This is not simply a path for walking and biking. The Greenway gives us opportunities to restore habitat, improve water quality, manage stormwater and flooding, invest in public spaces, and connect people with the Woonasquatucket River.”

If you already love the Greenway and want to see it continue through Johnston, we especially hope you’ll join us. If you’re just curious about what all the recent conversation is about, we hope you’ll come too.

Help us plant something that will grow here for years to come, and be part of the conversation about what comes next.

Join Us September 26

Goldsmith Street Friends Group Volunteer Day
Saturday, September 26
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Goldsmith Street Fish Ladder
15 Goldsmith Street
Johnston, RI 02919

The event is free and open to everyone. No gardening or volunteer experience is necessary. We’ll provide tools, materials, guidance, and snacks. Please dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, and bring water.

Register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/johnston-goldsmith-st-friends-group-tickets-1984897292233

Want to show your support for the Woonasquatucket River Greenway in Johnston? Sign our petition:
https://forms.gle/7Q88jkaja658JCAx8

Come plant. Come explore. Come ask questions. We’ll see you on the Greenway.