About this Location

Facility Overview

The Arena Parking Lot, located at 28 3rd Street in the historic Summit and Hope neighborhoods of Providence's East Side (02906), is a spacious open-air surface parking facility with a storied local heritage. The lot occupies the historic footprint of the former Rhode Island Auditorium—fondly known to generations of Rhode Islanders as 'The Arena'—which stood here from 1926 to 1989 as home to the AHL Providence Reds, championship boxing bouts by Rocky Marciano, and legendary concerts. Today, the parcel has been repurposed as a well-maintained, lighted ground-level parking lot managed by The Miriam Hospital (Brown University Health).

Because the facility is configured entirely as an open-sky surface lot, it offers unobstructed vertical headroom with no height clearance limits. This makes it an accommodating choice not only for standard sedans, compact cars, and crossovers, but also for full-size SUVs, oversized pickup trucks, accessible transport vans, and commercial service vehicles that cannot fit into standard downtown parking garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically situated between 3rd Street and North Main Street, the Arena Parking Lot serves as a vital access hub for medical personnel, neighborhood shoppers, and event visitors:

The Miriam Hospital (Brown University Health): Positioned just across the street, making this lot indispensable for clinical staff, outpatients, and medical visitors.
Historic Rhode Island Auditorium Site Plaque: A historic bronze marker erected on-site honoring 46 years of Providence Reds hockey and cultural entertainment.
North Main Street Commercial District: Steps from local dining, banking, specialty retail, and community service hubs lining the North Main commercial corridor.
Hope Village & Hope Street Corridor: Located within a 10-minute walk (approx. 0.5 miles) to independent boutiques, craft bakeries, and renowned eateries along Hope Street.
Lippitt Memorial Park & Blackstone Boulevard: Approximately 0.8 miles east, home to seasonal farmers markets, walking trails, and community events.
Brown University Athletics & College Hill: A brief 5-minute drive (approx. 1.5 miles) south to Meehan Auditorium, Pizzitola Sports Center, and Brown Stadium.
Downtown Providence: Less than a 10-minute drive (approx. 2 miles) to the Rhode Island Convention Center, Amica Mutual Pavilion, and Providence Place Mall.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicular access to the Arena Parking Lot is straightforward via 3rd Street, just off Summit Avenue and North Main Street (Route 1). The lot features wide, clearly demarcated entry and exit aprons designed to maintain a smooth flow of traffic even during shift-change hours at nearby medical facilities or neighborhood community events. Exiting vehicles can easily turn onto North Main Street to head inbound toward Downtown Providence or outbound toward Pawtucket.

For commuters seeking multimodal transportation options, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus stops line North Main Street, including frequent Route 1 service linking Pawtucket directly with Kennedy Plaza in Downtown Providence. Highway access is equally convenient: Interstate 95 is accessible in roughly three minutes via the Branch Avenue interchange (Exit 24), providing swift regional connectivity north toward Boston or south toward Warwick and T.F. Green International Airport.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous outdoor stall layout with zero height barriers for oversized vehicles, roof boxes, and high-profile pickups.
Historical Marker: On-site commemorative plaque installed by the Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society.
Paved and Striped: Freshly surfaced asphalt with clearly defined parking bays, one-way circulation lanes, and pedestrian walkways.
Lighting & Campus Security: Regularly monitored by hospital security patrols and illuminated with high-efficiency lot lighting for safety day and night.
Accessible Stalls: Designated ADA-compliant parking bays located near accessible entryways and pedestrian exits.
Convenient Hospital Proximity: Direct, flat walking routes to The Miriam Hospital clinics and main entrances.

Ideal For

Hospital Visitors & Outpatients: Individuals and families visiting The Miriam Hospital clinics, outpatient facilities, or inpatient pavilions.
Medical Professionals & Shift Workers: Healthcare staff requiring dependable 24/7 parking with easy interstate egress.
Local Shoppers & Diners: Visitors patronizing the boutique shops, cafes, and markets of Hope Village and North Main Street.
Sports & History Enthusiasts: Hockey fans and local historians paying homage to the former Providence Reds and Rhode Island Auditorium grounds.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When visiting the lot, input '28 3rd St, Providence, RI 02906' into your GPS navigation for direct routing to the main entrance off 3rd Street. If visiting during peak hospital shift changes (typically 6:30 AM–8:00 AM and 2:30 PM–4:00 PM on weekdays), allow extra time to navigate local residential side streets. Street parking in surrounding residential areas is strictly enforced with 2-hour limits and overnight permit rules, so parking in the dedicated off-street lot is strongly recommended. Lastly, take a moment near the North Main Street perimeter to view the commemorative bronze plaque celebrating the arena's place in Rhode Island sports history.