Gorton Pond

41° 42.206' N    71° 27.565' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

This is a site for launching boats from trailers. Boat ramps can normally be used to launch canoes and kayaks but please do your best to keep the boat ramp clear for boat trailers.

Description & Overview:

See what others have said.

Gorton Pond is a 58-acre peaceful oasis in a dense suburban neighborhood. There are houses and buildings all around the pond, except for a small public beach (now overgrown and unusable) at the southeast corner, but most of the houses are at least a bit screened by trees. Gasoline engines are not allowed on the pond so any boats on the pond should be relatively slow moving. About 900 feet east of the boat ramp is an elaborate, handicapped-accessible fishing dock with two roofed gazebos. To get this dock by land go back out to Veterans Memorial Drive and walk east for a few hundred feet and look for the dock on your left at the back of a parking lot. This is also the parking lot for the former beach. The dock is designed for fishing and has a railing all around it so it is not suitable for getting in and out of a boat. The boat ramp is also the better place to launch hand-carried boats.

This site provides access to the following water bodies in the Coastal Watersheds (West Bay) watershed: Gorton Pond.

Location:

Town: Warwick

Nearest Town Center: Apponaug

Driving Landmarks: From I-95 southbound take Exit 10A, which puts you on Route 117 east. From I-95 northbound take Exit 10 and turn right at the end of the ramp onto Route 117 east. Once on Route 117 east go straight for a little over a mile and then go left at the fork, following the signs for Route 1 north. Go another 0.1 miles and go left at another fork, here following the signs for Route 1 SOUTH. This puts you on Veterans Memorial Drive heading west. Go a few hundred feet turn right into the entrance for the Warwick Police Station. Follow the road through the police station parking lot, bearing left in front of the station. The boat ramp is on the right at the back of the parking lot next to the VIN check station. The parking is on the left.

To get back to the highway go back out through the police station lot and turn right onto Veterans Memorial Drive. Go 0.1 mile and stay left at the fork. Go another 0.1 miles and turn right at the light onto Route 117 west. The ramps to I-95 north and south are about 3/4 mile down the road.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: lake/reservior

Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.

Type of Access: Boat ramp

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: A gently sloping asphalt boat ramp leads down to the water line. From there it is a sand and gravel surface leading into the pond.

Float/Dock: no

Parking:

Parking: yes: 50 spaces

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: There is a porta-potty at the fishing dock, a few hundred feet back east on Veterans Memorial Drive. Restrooms may also be available in the police station.

Photographs:

The Boat Ramp at Gorton Pond

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: March 10, 2012

The boat ramp at Gorton Pond, with the pond beyond.

The Lower End of the Boat Ramp

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: March 10, 2012

The lower end of the boat ramp, where it deteriorates into sand and gravel.

The Fishing Dock

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: March 10, 2012

The fishing dock at Gorton Pond, about 900 feet east of the boat ramp, as of 2012.

The Beach at Gorton Pond

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: March 10, 2012

The former public beach at Gorton Pond, about 1/4 mile east of the boat ramp. As of 2023 the beach is overgrown and unusable.

Comments:

Fishing line disposal

Submitted by: Anonymous; August 16, 2023; 8:52 pm

Photographs:

Photo Credit: Friends of Gorton Pond

---

Beach is closed

Submitted by: Steve C; May 11, 2023; 2:01 pm

The beach area has been closed for at least 15 years. It is overgrown and sadly ugly. Canada geese have made the shoreline a mess, even by the boat ramp. I used to swim my Labs there, but no more. Its kind of gross
That said, there are lots of big bass abd turtles in the pond. If you can launch a amall boat or canoe, its a nice spot in the middle of Warwick.

Rating:

---

Just sits there rotting away

Submitted by: Tim Keene; December 16, 2021; 2:49 pm

The dock here used to be beautiful,it gave those who were less mobil on there feet a chance to enjoy the sites an fish.I was fortunate enough to be able to take my mother there fishing the last year of her incredibly strong fight against pancreatic cancer . She started with a cane then a walker after that it was a wheel chair an heated blanket plugged into the outlets that were provided. That do k helped my mother an I forget about the rough times of her battle she never passed on a fishin trip.

Rating:

Photographs:

Photo Credit: Tim Keene

Do you have comments, corrections or additions to the information about this site?

Help us work together to make this website better by sharing your knowledge!

Private feedback goes to the Blueways Alliance/RI Land Trust Council. We'll use your information to make this website better or pass it along to the people who can deal with physical issues at this site. Public comments are posted here (once they've been reviewed and approved) for all to see.