Quonset Business Park is New England’s premier business park and one of the largest in the Northeast. Home to more than 200 companies, over 12,000 people work at Quonset in a wide variety of industries. The business park spreads across more than 3,200 acres that includes world-class transportation and utility infrastructure to support the thriving businesses here. Meanwhile, Quonset has hundreds of acres dedicated to recreation, preserving our rich history and protected open space.
Now that it’s officially summer, there’s no better time to take advantage of the amenities that Quonset has to offer. Quonset has four beaches where the public can experience the beauty of Narragansett Bay. Blue Beach includes a small beach with sand dunes and is ringed by densely wooded areas to the north and east. It features a scenic view of Narragansett Bay and the Jamestown Bridge. Compass Rose Beach is a small, dog-friendly beach located off Roger Williams Way and is adjacent to Quonset Airport. Spink’s Neck Beach is a narrow stretch of sand by Little Allen Harbor, an active working waterfront with several marine-related businesses. Calf Pasture Point Beach is a natural habitat that is home to many species of wildlife, sea life, and waterfowl. South of the Mount View neighborhood, Calf Pasture sits along the Quonset Bike Path and features views from East Providence to Warwick Neck to Jamestown and beyond.
If you’re looking for more active recreation, Quonset has options for you too. The North Kingstown Golf Course is one of the best public courses in the state and was designed by Walter Johnson, an associate of famed golf course designer Donald Ross. The course has been recognized by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America as one of the finest golf courses at a former military base in the country. Quonset also offers two connected bike paths: the 2.3 mile long Quonset bike path and the 1.25 mile long North Kingstown town bike path. These paths take riders from Post Rd. all the way to the serene Calf Pasture Point nature area and Narragansett Bay itself.
Need to get to the Vineyard quickly? The Rhode Island Fast Ferry leaves from the end of Roger Williams Way in Quonset and brings travelers to Martha’s Vineyard. It also offers sightseeing and lighthouse cruises around Narragansett Bay.
Other amenities offered at Quonset include the Gateway Retail District with Dave’s Marketplace, the Town Place Suites Hotel, Allen Harbor Marina, and the former Quonset Officer’s Club, a popular wedding reception site featuring five banquet rooms and overlooking Narragansett Bay. Also, not to be missed at Quonset are the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park that feature Quonset’s history as a formal naval base and home of the Fighting Seabees. There’s something for everyone and every interest at Quonset!
Steven King, PE, is the managing director of the Quonset Development Corp., North Kingstown, RI.