CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ALBEMARLE PARKS
CITY PARKS
Azalea Park: Azalea Park offers a softball field, two basketball courts, an off-leash dog area, a playground and access to the Rivanna Trails Foundation trail along Moore’s Creek. In addition, community garden plots at the park are available for annual rental at $40/plot for City residents, $60/non-residents. Azalea's 23 acres lie on Old Lynchburg Road just north of Interstate 64.
Forest Hills Park: Forest Hills offers a picnic shelter, playgrounds, trails, and two full basketball courts. After a recent renovation, the park now has a 6,000-square-foot spray ground open every day through September.
McIntire Park: Thanks to the Charlottesville city parks' premier benefactor, Paul Goodloe McIntire, this park is a hotspot for community activities and entertainment. Located off the Route 250 Bypass, McIntire is densely packed with trees and winding streams. The park holds two lighted Little League baseball fields, two lighted softball fields, a T-ball field, a concession stand, playground and three 70-person picnic shelters that cost $85 for an all-day weekend or holiday reservation; $55 for weekday reservations. McIntire is the location of April's popular Dogwood Festival carnival and fireworks. McIntire Park sports a nine-hole sand green golf course, and a playground with a tot area and wading pool. Across the Bypass is the popular skateboard park. Further information on the Adopted Master Plan for the western portion of the park
Meade Park: Meade Park's five acres at the corner of Meade Avenue and Chesapeake Street are the home of Onesty Swimming Pool overlooking a stream bordered by weeping willows. The 35-year-old pool was demolished in the fall of 2008 to make way for the new Onesty Family Aquatic Center that opened June 20, 2009. More information on the new facility at Meade Park
Meadowcreek Gardens: A prime Charlottesville area for gardening real estate lies off the Route 250 Bypass on Morton Drive behind the English Inn. The area known as "The Fairgrounds" is most renowned for its 73 community garden plots available for annual rental at $40/plot for City residents, $60/non-residents. A footpath through the woods traverses another undeveloped 20 acres of the park.
Meadowcreek Golf Course: Located at Pen Park, this 18-hole championship layout offers outstanding vistas of the southern mountains, challenging terrain changes, and a fun layout for all levels of golfers. Home to The First Tee of Charlottesville, an international youth development program focused on the game of golf. Practice range, putting green and instruction available. For current greens fees and bonus offers, contact the Pro shop at 977-0615.
Pen Park: The largest park in Charlottesville-- at 280 acres-- Pen Park has been at this spot for over 200 years. The park's varied topography offers a mountain vista backdrop to recreational activities that include eight tennis courts, a Little League baseball field, volleyball court, outdoor fitness trail, and a playground. The handicap-accessible course features 20 exercise stations leading to the Rivanna River. Pen also offers three lighted picnic shelters, each of which can accommodate 70 people and are available for reservation from April to October with prices ranging from $85/weekends and holidays to $55/weekdays.
Quarry Park: Off Monticello Avenue on Quarry Road, Quarry Park sits where a road once led to an old stone quarry. The park's nine-plus acres offer two baseball fields, a tee-ball field and access to the Rivanna Trails Foundation trail loop along Moore’s Creek.
Riverview Park: These 26.6 acres bordering the Rivanna River at the eastern edge of the city, formerly part of Riverview Cemetery, morphed several years ago into a family hiking paradise. Known initially as the Rivanna Green Belt, in March 2004 the original tar-and-gravel trail was covered with asphalt and then striped in May 2005. In addition to the long walking, jogging, and biking trail, Riverview offers a picnic area with a large paved parking area, information center, playground, grill, two benches, and an open field. The Belt is also handicap-accessible, and leash law restrictions are waived on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Fri-Mon, the City's leash law is in effect.
Tonsler Park: The almost-always-bustling Tonsler is Charlottesville's version of Centre Court at Wimbledon. Tonsler Park has numerous amenities, including a recreation center, basketball courts, playground, Little League field, and four tennis courts. Located at the corner of 5th Street and Cherry Avenue, it is one of the more popular parks in the City.
Washington Park: One of the most historic parks in Charlottesville was dedicated to the famous African-American rights leader Booker T. Washington in 2001. Over a century ago, Washington became a close college friend of Charlottesville educator Benjamin Tonsler. Despite its meager nine acres, Washington is one of the most popular parks in the area with three basketball courts, a lighted outdoor pool with wading area and bath house, a recreation building, playground, and restrooms. At the bottom of a grassy hill, two basketball courts, a softball field, and multi-use field complete the park's offerings. Washington has also become well known for the African American Cultural Arts Festival the last weekend in July.
CITY-COUNTY JOINTLY OWNED PARKS
Darden Towe Memorial Park: This beautiful park by the Rivanna is known in some circles as "the dog park," for good reason. In addition to the park's three softball fields, four multi-purpose fields for soccer, lacrosse, and football, and four tennis courts, a small part of the park's 110 acres is fenced to allow dogs to frolic and owners to socialize. Visitors also enjoy access to the Rivanna River and a picnic shelter with electricity, open grills, and seats for up to 50 people for a $25 fee. Darden Towe, on Route 20 North/Stony Point Road, is open year round from 7am-dark.
Ivy Creek Natural Area: Managed by the Ivy Creek Foundation, this gorgeous 215-acre natural area offers over six miles of walking trails, but with a strict set of rules that prohibit pets, jogging, hunting, and collecting specimens. The volunteer Ivy Creek Foundation provides nature programs throughout the year. Members of the Monticello Bird Club lead monthly bird walks through the area while members of the Virginia Native Plant Society lead a plant walk on the third Saturday of every month. Off Earlysville Road near the Reservoir.
Ragged Mountain Natural Area: Another paradise for sturdy hikers, Ragged Mountain offers beautiful but somewhat challenging trails. A variety of trees including mature oak, hickory, poplar, pine, and maple surround the 980-acre park's two lakes to create four miles of total shoreline. Trekkers should allow at least two to three hours to complete the somewhat treacherous seven-mile hike around the area's perimeter. The trail ascends 850 feet into the Ragged Mountains. In order to protect the wildlife, water quality, and serenity of the Ragged Mountain Reservoir, no dogs, jogging and running, bikes, collecting, horses, hunting, swimming, and camping are allowed. Located off Reservoir Road beyond the Fontaine Avenue exit from the 250 Bypass, the Natural Area is open 7am-dusk.
COUNTY PARKS
Beaver Creek Lake: With more water than any other county park (115 land acres, 104 water), Beaver Creek is a fisherman's dream. Beaver Creek Lake prohibits swimming, but picnic tables are scattered throughout the park along with seasonal restrooms. Beaver Creek is open 6am-10pm year round. The Lake lies off the 250 west bypass on Brown's Gap Turnpike (Rt. 680).
Chris Greene Lake: The park's 120 acres of land, 62 acres of water, and two acres of beach offer swimming and canoe rental as well as two main picnic shelters with electricity and available seating for 50 people each. Eight picnic tables and five grills are also scattered throughout the park located off Route 680 on its own Chris Greene Lake Road.
Dorrier Park: Despite its small size, Dorrier provides numerous athletic opportunities. Near Scottsville, the two-acre park has softball and soccer fields, two tennis courts, and a walking path. A picnic shelter with electricity seats 50 (with restrooms!). Off Page Street in Scottsville.
Mint Springs Valley: Mint Springs' water territory (eight acres water, two acres beach) offers public swimming, and in addition to regular fishing regulations, Mint Springs also provides licensed trout fishing October-June. Mint Springs' whopping 502 acres offer picnic tables and grills as well as two picnic shelters seating 24 and 48. Mint Springs also offers a variety of hiking trails, including a half-mile lake trail and a nearly two-mile fire trail. Mint Springs tragically became famous when Piedmont Airlines Flight 349 plunged into its hillside, killing 26 people, in October 1959. The lone survivor, Phil Bradley, helped develop a monument at the crash site dedicated in 1999 to those who lost their lives in the accident. The park is located on Mint Springs Road off Route 684.
Simpson Park: For a smaller park, Simpson provides numerous athletic sites through its 13-plus acres featuring a water spray area and a sunning plaza open May-September. The facility also offers a Little League baseball field, a multi-purpose field open to the public, two tennis courts, and a basketball court. A 32-person picnic shelter offers open grills and seasonal restrooms. Simpson is located off Route 627/Porter's Road on Simpson Drive.
Totier Creek: Totier provides a simple and quiet fishing environment for folks hoping to reel in the catch of the day. Hike the 144 acres, but don't try to swim in the 66 acres of water-- it's the water supply for Scottsville. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park along with seasonal restrooms.
Walnut Creek: Walnut Creek is one of the few parks in the area offering a balanced combination of land, fishing, and athletic activities. The 480 acres include a 34-acre disc golf course, completed two years ago with the help of the Blue Ridge Disc Golf club. The land also boasts 15 miles of paved trails for biking, hiking, and running. Swimming is available, along with canoe rental and two picnic shelters seating 42 (one with electricity)-- but only one during swim season. Four more picnic tables are scattered throughout the park, and restrooms are also available. Walnut Creek is off old Lynchburg Road.
Charlotte Y. Humphris Park: Near Albemarle High School, across the street from Mario's, this used to be called "Whitewood Park," but was re-christened in honor of this beloved late County supervisor.
HookTip
Prefer walking around Charlottesville to driving? Then take a look at the Rivanna Trails Foundation. Their goal is to establish a network of footpaths encircling the City of Charlottesville, generally following the course of the Rivanna River and its tributaries. To date they've completed approximately 20 miles of hiking trails.
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
Bailey Park: Located at the corner of Route 250 bypass and Hillcrest Road, the small third-of-an acre park contains a bench and tall trees providing shade and a comfortable picnic setting.
Belmont Park: Not your typical neighborhood park, Belmont balances a playground and park areas within the neighborhood. Stonehenge Avenue, Rialto Street, and Druid Avenue circle Belmont's 3.1 acres. The park offers a full basketball court, playground, children’s spray ground (in-season), and large shady trees that provide protection for outdoor concerts.
Fifeville Park: Its facilities sit above the common ground on the street with a basketball court, shelter, and a brand new playground for preschool children. Fifeville's fenced in .66 acre lies within Grove, Spring, and King Streets.
Greenbrier Park: This city refuge contains 28.3 acres along Meadow Creek. A natural area with Meadow Creek bisecting its length, Greenbrier contains mature forest and a marsh (one of just two natural marshes in the Virginia Piedmont Region) along with trails and a major portion of the Rivanna Trails Foundation trail loop.
Greenleaf Park: One of the best city parks to take younger children, visitors enjoy a playground area, a new children’s spray ground, a picnic shelter with restrooms, and a half basketball court. Greenleaf's 14 acres of grassy hillside include hardwood and evergreen trees.
Jackson Park: The park's main attraction is the large equestrian monument of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson created by Charles Keck, who played a vital role in the entire development of Jackson Park. The statue ranks among the three best equestrian statues in the world. The park also includes many well maintained flower beds, and is part of the Virginia Civil War Trails. Jackson hosts the Jefferson Thanksgiving Festival as well, with Revolutionary era re-enactments and displays. The less-than-half-acre park is surrounded by Jefferson, Fourth NE, and High Streets, and the Albemarle County Courthouse.
Jordan Park: On just over three acres at the south end of Sixth Street, the park borders Moore's Creek. Facilities including a basketball court, playground, grill, and picnic tables.
Lee Park: The dominant equestrian statue of Robert E. Lee was first conceived by Henry M. Shrady and later finished by Leo Lentelli as another gift from Paul McIntire in 1924, three years after the Jackson monument. Just over an acre of remaining park land offers a comfortable setting with numerous benches, checkers and chess set tables, as well as pretty flowers and shrubbery. Lee is bordered by Jefferson, First NE, Market, and Second Streets.
McGuffey Park: On a little over an acre of land, McGuffey sits on its own hill beside the Art Center with the same name at Second St. NW and Jefferson Street. The park was completely renovated in 2007 and now features a new playground, trail, basketball court, and fountain.
Northeast Park: The park offers a full basketball court, playground facilities and picnic areas, as well as a footbridge to Marshall Street. Just shy of five acres of land, it's at the corner of Sheridan Ave. and Calhoun St.
Rives Park: Here visitors enjoy a view of Carter Mountain along with access to a half basketball court, a shelter with four picnic tables, and playground equipment. The neighborhood park offers over four acres of flat open space not far from Quarry Park. A completed Master Plan for Rives Park can be found on the City’s web site
Starr Hill Park: The park provides nearly half an acre of comforting open field. Starr Hill is at the corner of Seventh St. NW and Elsom St. A recently completed Master Plan for Starr Hill Park: City’s web site.
City Parks Rules & Regulations
Office: 970-3589
City Code requires owners to keep their dogs leashed at all times in city parks. Owners must also clean up the feces of dogs in their care. Failure to abide by these laws is a class-four misdemeanor. Owners are, however, provided with specific fenced-in areas at some parks where dogs can roam. Picnic Shelters (other than McIntire & Pen Park) are available at a first-come first-served basis.
County Parks Rules & Regulations
Office: 296-5844
All parks that offer fishing require all fisherman to hold a Virginia State Fishing License. All lakes offer abundant sunfish, channel catfish, and largemouth bass. Fishing parks normally open at 7am (6am during peak fishing seasons). (Includes Chris Greene Lake, Mint Spring Valley, Beaver, Totier and Walnut Creeks). Parks permitting swimming are open 12pm-7pm Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swimming is prohibited if lifeguards are not on duty. A park user fee is also charged during the swim season. Parks providing canoe rental do so for an hourly rate of $5. Picnic shelters are available for reservation at numerous parks for $25-- free during swim season. U.S. Coast Guard-approved boats and crafts are welcome at the lakes; however, gasoline and fuel oil-powered motors are prohibited. Hunting is strictly prohibited in all County parks.