BURLINGAME STATE PARK NATURE CENTER

Burlingame State Park is a public recreation area located in Charlestown, Rhode Island. It includes a campground that adjoins the Burlingame Management Area and the Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary, a 29-acre area established by the Audubon Society in 1927. The park is managed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Families visiting Burlingame State Park can enjoy a variety of activities such as camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, and hiking. The park features the nearly 8-mile John Vincent Gormley Trail, which connects the campground to the Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary. Visitors may encounter a diverse range of wildlife, including up to 80 bird species, deer, rabbits, muskrats, and various reptiles and amphibians. The park also offers a sandy beach area for swimming and a boat launch for fishing.

Burlingame State Park was established following land acquisitions that began in 1930, inspired by the Audubon Society's establishment of the Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary. During the 1930s, it served as a base for the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park operates as a carry in-carry out facility, encouraging visitors to maintain cleanliness, and access to the park's beaches is free. The Audubon Society sold the Kimball Wildlife Refuge to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management in 2015, integrating it into the park.