Bishop Heights

Bishop Heights, located in Johnston, is a secluded, quiet community that overflows with outdoor amenities. With stone walls along two-lane roads and a rich landscape due to surrounding parks and reservoirs, the community feels separate from Providence's city life about 10 miles away. “It’s a low-travel neighborhood,” says Greg Coupe, principal broker with Long Realty, Inc., who has 14 years of experience in the area. “It’s not a cut-through. Anyone who drives through Bishop Heights either lives there or is visiting someone who lives there.”

Homes are tucked between lush wood and along small hills. There’s dense foliage that, in the summer, shades the neighborhood in a canopy of green, and in the autumn, before the leaves fall and need raking, color the streets orange, yellow and red. There are also some subdivisions around Slack Reservoir and other places, with cul-de-sacs and well-maintained lawns. Most homes in Bishop Heights were built between the 1940s and 1970s. A ranch-style house or bungalow will cost buyers between $150,000 and $400,000. A larger home with colonial influences can run between $600,000 and $700,000 and might have access to water, depending on where in the neighborhood it’s located. “Buyers like this neighborhood because it’s in a country area,” says Coupe. “It’s more spread out and residential than cities or other parts of the state.”

Students are zoned for the Johnston Public School District and can attend Brown Avenue Elementary School, Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School and Johnston Senior High School. They all receive B-minus ratings from Niche. The high school has eight different academies specializing in a wide range of subjects, from medicine to art. If students enroll in the Education Academy, they will be eligible to take the ParaPro Examination for Teacher Assistant Certification.

Snake Den State Park is a largely undeveloped green space that spans 1,000 acres. There aren’t recreational facilities here, like playgrounds or fitness equipment; however, visitors can hike the park’s extensive trail system that meanders past the Pocasset River, through fields and farmland and over rocks. Slack Reservoir is a popular spot in the summer, with a private beach, Slack Pond Beach, for use by residents only. Locals love swimming in the reservoir or casting their lines to fish. Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge is a great spot for birding or snowshoeing. Home to 100 acres of woodland habitat, a fox or deer might run across one of the numerous hiking trails. The Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s administrative headquarters is within the refuge and hosts scheduled nature hikes, programs, lectures and events.

The Apple Blossom Festival takes place at Johnston Memorial Park, 4 miles east of the neighborhood, annually in early autumn. Stroll along Artisan Row, where vendors sell handmade crafts or enter the apple pie baking contest. Locals can enjoy live music while having something to eat. Verde Vineyards, a quaint winery with woodland views, sits beside Moswansicut Pond. Drive down a long gravel road to the small wood and stone buildings amid luscious green farmland where patrons sip wine under shady trees.

Cindy’s Diner and Restaurant, on Hartford Avenue, has a classic diner vibe, with red barstools and checkered floors. It’s a popular spot for classic American food, and, in the back, there’s a toy and book exchange for kids. For dessert, head across the street to Moose Trackers Ice Cream & Confections, a rustic wooden sweets shop that sells an assortment of bagged candy alongside ice cream.

At the top of the neighborhood, there’s a large commercial area with various strip malls and big-box stores. Grab groceries from Stop & Shop on Putnam Pike or Dave’s Fresh Marketplace. Also up here, there’s a CVS pharmacy, Target, The Home Depot, Barnes & Noble and more, ensuring locals have easy access to everything they need.

Coupe says, “Most residents commute or telecommute to work.” U.S. Interstate 295 runs along the eastern boundary of the neighborhood. U.S. Route 6 cuts through the middle and will lead locals about 10 miles east to Providence.

Written By

Adreanna DeMarino

Photography Contributed By

Joseph Popovich

Video By

Ruo Zheng