47acres
One of the most beloved parks in Lynchburg, and the second oldest, Riverside Park provides a mix of passive and active recreation for the entire community. Located off of Rivermont Avenue, Riverside has 47 acres of rolling parkland, with lovely stands of trees and walking trails that provide views of the wooded hillsides and the river beyond.
Activities
Active recreation is enjoyed on the tennis and basketball courts, while younger children play in the extensive play area located in the front of the park. Be sure to visit the outdoor transportation museum located in the park. Children, families, and history buffs will all enjoy the three train cars, the hull of the packet boat, Marshall, and the Fink Deck Truss bridge, once used to carry trains across challenging terrain. Click on the links to the left for more information.
Visitors will enjoy the view of the surrounding ravine down to the James from the Overlook, while more serious hikers will revel in the trees and wildlife found along the Alpine Trail. The Alpine Trail descends steeply towards the James River and then winds back up to the park.
Two picnic shelters and a gazebo can be rented for picnics, birthday parties or family reunions. For more information or to rent/reserve a shelter or the gazebo, email Customer Service or call (434) 455-5858.
Sprayground
On July 31, the city opened the first public sprayground in the city! The 1,900 square-foot sprayground was developed as part of the master plan for the renovation of Riverside Park. In partnership with the City, the Junior League of Lynchburg donated $125,000 to help build the sprayground. The sprayground has an array of water play activities to “beat the summer heat,” including dumping buckets, spraying lake fish, pop jets, and tulip sprays. The sprayground meets ADA accessibility guidelines, and has a zero depth entry on a concrete surface. Since the facility uses re-circulated, chemically treated water—it is also GREEN and CLEAN! Check our Sprayground FAQ's before visiting!
Riverside Park Master Planning
Master Planning for Riverside Park began in the fall of 2007. Stakeholders, interested community members and City staff worked closely with a team of landscape architects from John Milner Associates, Inc., throughout the Master Planning process.
The Junior League of Lynchburg recently joined other groups contributing both time and money to the renovation of historic Riverside Park. Along with the Junior League donation of $125,000, over $1 million dollars in grant funding and organizational donations have contributed to the renovation.
Partners of Riverside Park include the James River Garden Club, Lynchburg Garden Club, Lynchburg Historical Foundation, Lynchburg Kiwanis Club, and the Junior League of Lynchburg. The project has received substantial grant funding from VDOT through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act- A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) program.
Riverside Park Master Plan
Map Locator & Driving Directions
Last updated date: 8/6/2010 12:28:50 PM