Crescent Park (defunct amusement park)
Crescent Park was an amusement park in Riverside, East Providence, Rhode Island which ran from 1886 to 1979. During the park's 93-year run, it entertained millions of New Englanders as well as people from all over the world. The park was known for its Rhode Island Shore Dinners, the Alhambra Ballroom and its midway. Declining attendance during the 1970s forced the park to close. The land was cleared for a housing development. The only remaining amusement ride is the completely restored 1895-vintage Crescent Park Looff Carousel, designed and built by Charles I.D. Looff as a showpiece for his carousel business. History 19th century Crescent Park was founded in 1886 by George B. Boyden, who leased land on Narragansett Bay from John Davis, the owner of the Bullock's Point Hotel which sat above a bathing beach on the Bay. Several years later Boyden purchased the hotel and changed its name to the Crescent Park Hotel which continued to be operated until 1935, when it was razed to make room for a parking lot for the park. Boyden named the park after the crescent shape of the beach. In 1892, carousel builder Charles I. D. Looff installed the park's first carousel. The