Playgrounds and parks are essential when you have kids. It is a great way for them to socialize with other kids and get some of the extra energy out. We are fortunate to have many great playgrounds and parks in the Richmond area. We have identified some parks that we feel your family should try. These are free public parks for everyone to enjoy.
Crump Park and Meadow Farm Museum
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| Address: | 3400 Mountain Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060 |
| Description: | Crump Park is located in Glen Allen and offers playgrounds, picnic shelters, trails, large open fields, and a fishing pond. In addition, the Meadow Farm Museum, an 1860 living history farm site and museum, is also located in the park. The museum offers seasonal activities and programs throughout the site. |
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| Why is it special? | A perfect park for families interested in history and nature. The Meadow Farm Museum offers many programs throughout the year such as farmhouse tours, animal tours, leisure games, and more! Crump Park is also used by the Glen Allen community for events like Glen Allen Day. |
Deep Run Park
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| Address: | 9900 Ridgefield Pkwy, Richmond, VA 23233 |
| Description: | Deep Run Park is an expansive park filled with two ponds, soccer and football fields, play areas, picnic shelters, exercise and nature trails, a multi-use outdoor area, and a recreation center. The five miles of biking, hiking and exercise trails provide a great way to enjoy the park in different ways. |
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| Why is it special? | Deep Run Park is a very scenic park that just screams tranquility. The grounds are kept very well and it is one of the better-maintained parks. The trails are very family friendly and some of the paths are also paved. The recreation center also holds free programs for the entire family. |
Forest Hill Park
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| Address: | 4021 Forest Hill Ave, Richmond, VA 23225 |
| Description: | Forest Hill Park consists of the historic Stone House, once the park manager’s home that can now be rented for small meetings or events, a lake, which has been restored in recent years, tennis courts, picnic shelters, a children’s playground, and many paths and trails are popular for walking and jogging. A partial wetland, much wildlife can be viewed in the park, and there are also sloping hills for passive recreation. It is well known as a popular sledding site anytime it snows in Richmond, and during the summer months, Sunday concerts are hosted in the park. The park also has been the home to the South of the James Market, a farmer’s market. |
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| Why is it special? | Forest Hill Park is a great park for walking and hiking. Some of the trails are paved which makes it accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. It is also a popular dog walking park. This park is great all year round. During the warm months, stop by the park to enjoy the South of the James Market and purchase locally produced food. When it snows, stop by with your sled and go down one of the many sloping hills. |
PARK365
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| Address: | 3600 Saunders Ave, Richmond, VA 23227 |
| Description: | Opened in the late summer of 2015, PARK365 (formerly known as ARCpark) is a public park that is open to all ages and all disabilities. The park has many unique features such as a sensory wall with panels that stimulate touch, hearing, and sight; wheelchair accessible play equipment; three state-of-the-art playgrounds for toddlers, school-aged kids, and older; water misting stations; a playhouse; a small stage; water troughs; music instruments for creative play; and much more. |
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| Why is it special? | PARK365 is definitely a park for everyone. The park is completely handicap-accessible and it has an amazing 50-foot sensory wall that is therapeutic for kids with developmental and sensory disabilities. There are so many things at the PARK365 that it will surely entertain your kids all day long! |
Huguenot Park
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| Address: | 10901 Robious Rd, Richmond, VA 23235 |
| Description: | Huguenot Park is a 53-acre heavily wooded park that provides an excellent environment to watch birds and other small animals. Park includes an azalea garden, fitness trail, picnic shelters, play equipment, restrooms, tennis and basketball courts, and fields for soccer and football. The playground is also handicap-accessible. |
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| Why is it special? | While this park has many amenities appealing to all age groups, Huguenot Park is great for young families. The playground is fenced in to prevent the little ones from wandering off and it is also handicap-accessible. For the more active families, the exercise trail has crushed gravel which makes it stroller friendly. |
Humphrey Calder Community Center Playground
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| Address: | 414 N Thompson St, Richmond, VA 23221 |
| Description: | As the name suggests, Humphrey Calder Community Center Playground is a part of the Humphrey Calder Community Center. The community center offers a gym, a game room with a computer lab, and a multi-purpose room. Outside there are soccer fields, a youth baseball field, basketball courts, a sand volleyball court, a picnic shelter, and of course, a playground. |
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| Why is it special? | The playground is unique in that it is entirely covered with sand. This may be appealing to parents of really young children. The big drawback would be sand in the shoes. We suggest sandals for quick cleanup. The community center also hosts a youth summer camp, special events, workshops, drop-in programs, an after-school program, and cultural activities. |
Mary Munford Playground
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| Address: | 211 Westmoreland Street Richmond, VA 23221 |
| Description: | Mary Munford Playground is located at Mary Munford Elementary School. While it is one of the smaller playground/parks, Mary Munford Playground has unique features that sets it apart from others. Features such as a wooden medieval playground with multiple castles along with another play area designed for special-needs children. |
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| Why is it special? | While this park has many amenities appealing to all age groups, Huguenot Park is great for young families. The playground is fenced in to prevent the little ones from wandering off and it is also handicap-accessible. For the more active families, the exercise trail has crushed gravel which makes it stroller friendly. |
Pole Green Park
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| Address: | 8996 Pole Green Park Ln, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 |
| Description: | Opened in the fall of 1998, Pole Green Park is a 232-acre park with many amenities including softball fields, soccer field, football field, a skate park, tot lots, playgrounds, and more. The Pole Green Community Center located in the park also has various parks and recreation programs. Pole Green Park also has a unique feature for horse owners. The park has an equestrian ring and stable. |
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| Why is it special? | Its diverse set of amenities makes it a perfect place for people of varying interests to come together. In addition to amenities like a skate park, a dog park, an equestrian ring, and sand volleyball courts, it has a community center in the park where many community events and classes occur like the Hanover Tomato Festival and much more! |
Rockwood Park
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| Address: | 3401 Courthouse Rd, Richmond, VA 23236 |
| Description: | Rockwood Park is the county’s oldest park. This 161-acre park features a complex of ball fields and game courts, a nature center, an archery range, Ruff House Dog Park, garden plots and an extensive system of hard and soft surface nature trails. Other features include picnic shelters, play equipment, concessions, and restrooms. |
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| Why is it special? | Rockwood Park is a great place to meet other families as it is often a gathering place for homeschoolers and moms of toddlers. When your kids are done playing in the playground, they can enjoy the nature center which is usually a big hit with the kids. Rockwood Park is also a great park to bring the family dog as the park offers two dog parks (one for small and one for large dogs). Fans of archery can enjoy the archery range which is a rare amenity at a public park. |
Three Lakes Park
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| Address: | 400 Sausiluta Dr, Richmond, VA 23227 |
| Description: | Three Lakes Park and Nature Center bring together the three worlds of air, water, and land for visitors to explore. The Nature Center is a 6,500 sq. ft. facility featuring a variety of exhibits designed to provide hands-on experiences. The 50,000-gallon aquarium also gives visitors a “fish-eye” view of the underwater world. The exhibits in the Nature Center will introduce visitors to the plant and animal life native to the area and wildlife living in the wetlands and woodlands of the park. By providing an assortment of live exhibits, dioramas, and interactive displays, the Nature Center offers something for every field of natural interest and is appropriate for all ages. |
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| Why is it special? | If your family loves wildlife, this is a great place to visit. The trails around the lake are perfect for all ages and you might be able to spot some turtles. The nature center with the aquarium is another unique offering to entertain the kids. |
For additional information on parks, please choose from one of the following park systems:
