History of Dunlap Wheeler Park

A Beginning

In 1941, the Middletown Improvement Association spent $7,425 to secure property just east of the Newport/Middletown line, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The intent was to preserve the land as a park that was to remain a beautiful spot from which to enjoy the coastal views at the end of Easton’s Beach.

The Green Pioneers

Alan R. Wheeler, a history teacher at St. George’s School for 45 years, was president of the Middletown Improvement Association, and Pauline H. Haire served as chairman of the executive committee. A number of forward-looking private contributors made this possible: Mrs. Hugh D. Auchincloss, Mrs. Oliver G. Jennings, Mrs. Hamilton Fish Webster, Mrs. Walter Belknap James, Mrs. William R. Hunter, Countess Laszlo Szecheny, Mrs. Nicholas Brown, Mrs. Michael Van Buren, Mrs. Louis Butler McCagg, Mr. Walter Gurnee Dyer, Mr. Alan R. Wheeler, William P. Sheffield, Esq. Mrs. George Cerio, Mr. James O’Connell, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Parish, Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs, Miss Maude K. Wetmore, Miss Edith Wetmore, Mr. William H. Vanderbilt, Mrs. T. I. Hare Powel, Mrs. G. Bogart Blakely, Mr. and Mrs. W. Henry Williams, Francis L. V. Hoppin, Stewart Duncan, Anonymous, Mr. and Mrs. William McMaster Mills, and the Middletown Improvement Association.

Mr. Edward J. Corcoran served as notary public and James A. Peckham served as town clerk at the time of purchase.

In 1947 the 0.97-acre piece of property was turned over to the town of Middletown for the sum of $10, to be used as a park or a common. This group, however, did not leave a maintenance fund or arrange to landscape the park. The park served as a dirt parking lot for over two decades throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Park Dedication- Alan R. Wheeler and Anne Slater Dunlap

 

In 1970 the town of Middletown dedicated the park to Alan R. Wheeler (1879-1956) and Anne Slater Dunlap (1922-1968), for their contributions to beautification of the town. Anne Slater Dunlap served the town of Middletown in many volunteer capacities. From 1965 to 1968 she was the first Green Acres Coordinator. She was secretary of the Conservation Commission during that same period. She was also very active in the Middletown Garden Club. Before there was a tree warden or a tree commission in Middletown, she saw the need for roadside trees. She brought this to the town’s attention, and she used her expertise as a botany professor to select the type of hardy tree that would provide the best ambience for the roads of Middletown. The town planted the pin oaks that Mrs. Dunlap selected (in the 1960s) up and down Green End Avenue, Riverview Avenue, Wyatt Road, and other roads in Middletown. Today their shade and foliage is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors alike.

From Parking Lot to Landscaped Park

In 1978 the park returned to being a parking lot. In response to concerns expressed by Rowena Dunlap, daughter of Anne Dunlap, the town planted grass in the park and agreed to landscape the area. The town has mowed it but it has not yet been landscaped to show the park’s best face to the public.

In 2000, a grassroots effort, led by Rowena Dunlap Burke, was launched to help Dunlap Wheeler Park finally realize its potential as a fully landscaped place of beauty to be enjoyed by the public. Since then many individuals, local businesses and institutions, including family members of Alan Wheeler and Anne Slater Dunlap, have contributed to the effort and many talented individuals have volunteered their services.

Frank Amaral, of Amaral Landscaping in Newport created the initial design for Dunlap Wheeler Park in September 2000. With this design, the project gained serious momentum: Several grants were sought and awarded: a grant of $2,500 from the Aquidneck Island Land Trust, a matching grant of $11,000 from the R.I. D.E.M., and an $11,000 grant from the Bank of Newport. These monies were all deposited to a town account expressly for Dunlap Wheeler Park. Several fundraisers were held at the Atlantic Beach Club.

In August 2001, the chain link fence that surrounded the park was removed. The park took on a whole new open and inviting look. People commented on how good the park looked, inspiring and encouraging those who were working towards its revitalization to realize their goal. If it looks good now, why not make it look great?

A View to the Future

In the spring of 2003, plans by landscape architect Anna Tillinghast were approved by the town of Middletown. In addition to maintaining an open lawn area overlooking Easton’s Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, the design includes trees appropriate to the environment, walkways, benches, and appealing sculptures. Completion of planting is anticipated by August 2004.

Dunlap Wheeler Park has a site of unusual prominence on Aquidneck Island. From its waterfront position, thousands upon thousands of people drive, bicycle, and walk past it daily. Once beautified by elegant landscaping, it will become the true gateway to both Middletown and Newport.

March 2004