The park has Scandinavian ties, being a part of Rhode Island District #3 Vasa Order of America. The Vasa Order of America is a Swedish-American fraternal organization that was founded more than a century ago as a society for Swedish immigrants in the United States.  The order is named for Gustav Vasa, who liberated the country in the 16th century and became the first king of modern Sweden.

It’s been over 50 years since a group of Swedes in the Vasa Order “wanted a place where they could have some of their traditional parties and events”.  In 1965 they purchased a parcel of land on approximately 41 acres on Boswell Trail in Foster, the former site of a camp called Camp Salubrit. The name of the park was decided on “because it was like a little bit of Sweden to the people that bought the park.”

If interested in joining one of the  five local lodges in RI District No. 3, the following is a list of names of lodges with meeting and contact information:

• Pioneer Lodge - 1st Tues. 7:30 pm @ June McCrillis’ home

• Star Lodge -  1st Wed. 7:00 pm @ Oceans of Grace

  118 Division St, East Greenwich, RI

• Johan Banner -  2nd Tues. 7:00 pm @ Miller’s Crossing (Vasa Hall)

• Quahog Lodge -  2nd Thur. 6:30 pm @ Wakefield Baptist Church

  Main St., Wakefield

• Svea Lodge - 4th  Mon @ St James Lutheran Church

  49 Middle Highway, Barrington