In the early 1900s, as Woonsocket's affluent middle class expanded, this area became the most attractive residential setting in the city. Despite the city's reluctance to buy the whole Harris estate, the North End is not without a park. Cold Spring Park, which has an entrance on Harris Avenue, was established as a recreational facility around 1804, when the Dorrites, advocates of a liberalized state constitution, held clambakes and rallies there, according to the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council brochure. After Harris purchased the property, in the mid-1800s, he continued to allow the public to use the park. In 1891, Cold Spring Park was officially purchased by the city of Woonsocket.
Today there are tennis courts, baseball fields, walking and bike trails and a modular playground.
The playground was constructed within the last 10 years by residents who wanted a nice place for their children to play. Last year, a local fourth-grade class built a canoe launch in the park, along the banks of the Blackstone River. On Friday evenings during the summer, the city's parks and recreation department shows children's films in the outdoor amphitheater preceded by family entertainment that has included jugglers, clowns and karaoke. According to Del Bonis, the North End is roughly defined as the area bordered by Blackstone and West School streets to the south, North Main Street to the east, the Blackstone River to the west and the Blackstone, Mass., line to the north. But the heart of the historic distict is bounded by Harris Avenue, Winter, Spring, Blackstone and Prospect streets, characterized by large houses set back from the street.