As you enter Ninigret Park take the first right and go to the Senior Center. The area around it is honey-combed with old roads and paths and the surrounding thickets and woods harbor a lot of birds. This can be a fine place to see a variety of sparrows including Field, Savannah, Lincoln’s, Clay-colored, and White-crowned as well as other ground feeders such as the Hermit Thrush.

The Charlestown Senior Center is a gathering place for leisure programs and activities, meetings, and social events for persons of all ages, located in Ninigret Park. Ninigret Park provides access to sections of the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.

Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge is one of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island. Established in 1970, it consists of 409 acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats including grasslands, shrublands, wooded swamps, and freshwater ponds. You may enjoy an excellent view of Ninigret Pond, the largest coastal salt pond in Rhode Island, from the observation platform at Grassy Point. For the birding enthusiasts, over 250 species of birds have been recorded at Ninigret. Also, refuge shores support a large diversity of marine life such as blue crab, bay scallop, and winter flounder.

The parcel of Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge where the Kettle Pond Visitor Center is located is referred to as the headquarters unit. Purchased in 2001, this parcel of forested uplands is home to pitch and white pines, black and white oaks, blueberry shrubs, sweet fern, and princess pine. Hiking along the trails offers visitors a chance to witness visual reminders of the great ice sheet, see changes in the seasonal vernal pool, and views of Watchaug Pond.