If you live in or near the City of Lynchburg, be sure to check out the city's parks. Lynchburg offers an excellent park system for city residents and visitors to explore and enjoy. Whether you're looking for swings and playground equipment, picnic areas, sports fields, or a quiet place to enjoy nature, there's a park that's just right for you.
Riverside Park, located at 2238 Rivermont Avenue, is the second oldest park in Lynchburg and one of the most popular park for area families. Riverside Park offers two playground areas, including the popular train-themed Play Core Playground beside the Sprayground water play area, a ground level ADA accessible water park which opened in July 2010. Sprayground includes a tall tower with buckets that fill with water before emptying onto the heads of those below. Also included are ground level water spouts, fish that spray water, and cascading waterfalls. Sprayground is open seasonally from May through September. The Junior League of Lynchburg helped fund this project, part of an ongoing renovation at Riverside Park. The transportation theme continues throughout the park with a train locomotive, tender, and caboose; the Fink Deck Truss Bridge, which is a national engineering landmark; and the hull of the packet boat, Marshall. The Alpine Trail, the first dedicated hiking trail in Lynchburg, offers scenic views of the James River. There are also tennis and basketball courts and picnic areas. The scenic overlook at Riverside Park, located directly behind the Sprayground, was renovated in 2020 and is a beautiful location for family photos, and can be rented for weddings and other events.
Peaks View Park, located at 170 Ivy Creek Lane, is the second largest park in Lynchburg and is also very popular with area families. At Peaks View Park, you can enjoy the playgrounds, baseball, softball and soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, mountain bike trails, hiking and biking trails. The playground at the top of the park (Wiggington Road entrance) is more suited to older kids, while the littles will enjoy the playground at the bottom of the park (Ardmore Drive entrance). The bottom playground includes a face-to-face swing where babies and toddlers can swing facing an older child or adult. There's a fitness course that winds through the park, beginning near the softball field at the Ardmore Drive entrance. Peaks View Park also offers a free 18-hole disc golf course and a bicycle pump track. Enter the park at the Wiggington Road entrance for both of these. The disc golf course begins near the bathrooms. The pump track is beside the tennis courts. Bring your own canopy or picnic blanket to set up. **NOTE** The playground at the top of the park was demolished in summer 2020 and has been rebuilt.
Miller Park, located in Midtown Lynchburg at 2100 Park Avenue, is the oldest park in Lynchburg. Miller Park Pool, the only public outdoor pool in Lynchburg, is a summer favorite with kids of all ages. The 50-meter pool includes a spiral water slide, kiddie pool with mushroom waterfall, low and high diving boards, concession stand, picnic tables, and lawn chairs. In addition to the pool, Miller Park offers several play areas for the kids, a basketball court, picnic areas, pavilions, and paved walking trails.
Ivy Creek Park, located at 118 Clemmons Lake Place, the city's newest park, was dedicated in 2011. Ivy Creek isn't a busy park like Peaks View, Riverside and Miller Parks. Ivy Creek Park is all about getting back to nature. From the small nature-themed play area to the fishing lake and wooded trails, you'll be surrounded by nature. Canoe and kayak rentals are available on summer weekends. You can also fish from the banks of Clemmons Lake or the pier. Clemmons Lake is a catch and release lake. Turn off Route 221 into the Lynchpin Industrial Park between the Sheetz and fire station and follow the signs to Ivy Creek Park.
Riverfront Park, located at 1100 Jefferson Street, includes a large open field often used as an event venue. In addition, Riverfront Park connects to the Riverwalk and Percival's Island Trails. The zero-depth fountain, open seasonally from May through September, is very popular with younger kids. The park also includes boardwalks, rain gardens with wildlife plantings, benches, shade trees, and a stage area. The Rotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark, located at 29 Ninth Street, is now a free area operated by Lynchburg Parks & Recreation. The Skatepark is open daily from 9 AM - 9 PM.
Hollins Mill Park, located at 521 Hollins Mill Road, is a favorite photo shoot venue for area families with excellent views of Blackwater Creek and historic Hollins Mill Dam. Picnic tables and grills make this park a popular weekend site. In addition, Hollins Mill Park includes trail connections to the Blackwater Creek Bikeway, including the Point of Honor Trail section. The Hollins Mill Tunnel is a family favorite spot for bike riding.
There are also many smaller neighborhood parks located throughout Lynchburg. Some of the parks include playground equipment, basketball courts, sports fields, and walking trails. You can find additional information about each of these parks on the Lynchburg Parks & Recreation website. These parks, as listed in Lynchburg Parks & Rec Activity Guide, include:
Audrey Barbour Park at 109 Jackson Street
Biggers Park at 501 5th Street
Blackwater Creek Athletic Area at 515 Monticello Avenue
College Park at 101 Breckenbridge Street
Fort Avenue Park at 4831 Fort Avenue
Heritage Park at 557 Leesville Road
Lower Bluffwalk Linear Park above Jefferson Street between 9th and 12th Streets
Lynchburg Dog Park at 515 Monticello Avenue
Jefferson Park at 405 York Avenue
Sandusky Park at 5805 Rhonda Road
Westover Park at 3117 Memorial Avenue
Younger Park at 2338 Light Street
Popular parks near Lynchburg located in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell counties include:
Campbell County Parks
Timbrook Park, located at 19040 Leesville Road in Lynchburg, is located beside the Campbell County Timbrook Branch Public Library. The park offers a handicap accessible playground, baseball/softball fields, a pavilion, fishing lake, and walking trails.
English Park, is located at 206 Pittsylvania Avenue in Altavista, beside the Staunton River. English Park offers playgrounds, athletic fields, walking trails, grilling and picnic facilities, restrooms, and river access, including a boat ramp for canoes and kayaks. There's also a seasonal sprayground, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Long Mountain Park, located at 220 Bear Creek Road in Rustburg, offers an accessible playground, baseball and softball fields, a memory garden, and trails.
Amherst County Parks
You'll find information at the link below for the Amherst County parks
Riveredge Park, located at 150 Rocky Hill Road in Madison Heights, offers a paved walking and biking trail, seasonal kayak and canoe rentals, a boat ramp, fishing access, a picnic area, and a children's playground. Bring your own canopy or picnic blanket. You can also use picnic tables, which are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis.
Coolwell Park, located at 646 N. Coolwell Road in Amherst, offers a children's play area; soccer, football, and softball fields; basketball courts; nature trail; grills; and restrooms. The community center at the park is available for rental through Amherst County Recreation and Parks Department, located at 129 Francis Avenue, Monroe.
Monacan Park, located at 1159 Monacan Park Road in Madison Heights, is located on the James River. The park offers a play area for children, boat ramp and small dock for boat access to the river, a covered picnic pavilion and picnic area, and restrooms.
Mill Creek Lake, located at 238 Mill Creek Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 190 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, picnic tables, grills, a play area for children, and restrooms. A new swimming area was created in 2020 and is roped off separately from the rest of the lake. There's a sandy beach too! The newest addition to Mill Creek Lake is a swing on the dock across from the swimming section. After swinging out over the lake, you can jump from the swing into the lake.
Stonehouse Lake Park, located at 294 Stonehouse Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 41 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, covered picnic pavilion, picnic tables, grills, a play area for children, and restrooms.
Thrashers Lake Park, located at 223 Thrashers Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 36 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, picnic tables, grills, a play area for children, and restrooms.
Appomattox County Parks
Appomattox Town Park, located on Hunter Street near Appomattox County High School, is a popular park for families that contains a walking trail, picnic pavilion, playground and an original caboose. Bring your own canopy or picnic blanket. You can also use picnic tables, which are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis. We don't have a current website link.
Bedford County and Town Parks
You'll find information at the link below for the Bedford County Parks. Visit the website for information about shelter rentals or visit the Bedford County Parks & Recreation office, which is adjacent to Falling Creek Park.
Falling Creek Park, located at 1257 County Farm Road in Bedford, offers playgrounds, BMX bike course, 36-hole disc golf course, skateboard park, and trails. Picnic shelters (available first come, first served) may be rented for half day or full day. Visit the website for information about shelter rentals or visit the Bedford County Parks & Recreation office, which is adjacent to Falling Creek Park.
The Bike Park is located at the end of County Park Road at Falling Creek Park. The Skate Park is located on Falling Creek Road, to the left of the main entrance of Falling Creek Park.
Independence Park, located at 1182 Venhorst Drive in Bedford, was originally a private disc golf course. Now part of Bedford County Parks & Recreation, Independence Park offers two large fishing ponds, a covered picnic shelter, several trails, and an 18-hole disc golf course.
Bedford Town Parks
You'll find information at the link below for the Bedford Town Parks
Edmund Street Park, located at 516 Edmund Street in the Town of Bedford, offers a playground, basketball court, soccer field, tennis court, picnic tables and areas, a covered pavilion, and restrooms.
Greenwood Park, located at 804 Greenwood Street in the Town of Bedford, offers a playground, basketball court, and picnic tables.
Liberty Lake Park, located at 939 Burks Hill Road in the Town of Bedford, offers a fishing lake (license required), playgrounds, picnic areas, picnic shelters, walking trails, skateboard area, tennis court, volleyball area, and baseball fields.
Reynolds Park, located at 1110 East Main Street in the Town of Bedford, offers walking trails, picnic areas, and picnic shelters. The walking trails are especially pretty in the spring.
Forest Rotary Park, located behind the Forest Public Library at 15583 Forest Road in Forest, was gifted to the Forest community by the Rotary Club of Forest. Phase one of the all-inclusive playground project, which includes the main slide and climb module, was completed in September 2022. Swings, musical and sensory pieces, and spinners have also been added. This ongoing project will be installed in phases over the next several years. The ADA compliant equipment and educational activities allow children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to play and learn together.
In addition, many local churches offer playground facilities which are open to the public at no charge on a first come, first served basis when not in use for church functions.
Here are some of the articles about Lynchburg's parks and trails posted here on Lynchburg Macaroni Kid:
July is Parks and Recreation Month at Peaks View Park
July is Parks and Recreation Month at Ivy Creek Park
Explore Lynchburg: Miller Park
Summer Fun Coming Soon to Riverside Park
Hit the Trails: Alpine Trail at Riverside Park
You’ll find lots of local family-friendly events in the the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar of events on our website.
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