As a great man once said, “School’s out for summer.” Aside from the pool, the obvious place to take kids during the dog days of summer is to the park. Make that, to the playground, where the kids can entertain themselves on swings, slides, or by just looking up at the sky, as their caretakers kick back in the shade.
However, as C-VILLE discovered while perusing the 15 Charlottesville city parks that include playground equipment and the county’s five counterparts, a satisfying playground experience is not always easy to find. The quality…er variety…of these playgrounds proved endless, a fact to which the following “playground report card” attests. Some were fit for the spawn of Windsors, some barely worthy of a game of “fetch” with the dog.
The city’s park system is extensive, with 24 public parks divided into two categories: community and neighborhood parks. The neighborhood parks are larger and intended for the entire city’s use, à la Pen and McIntire parks. The neighborhood parks, such as McGuffey and Fife-ville, are more intimate and focused on the needs of the individual neighborhoods in which they are located. Fifteen of the city’s public parks feature playgrounds. That’s not including school playgrounds, however, which the City also maintains.
The Charlottesville parks system began in 1917, when Paul Goodloe McIntire donated land for Lee Park. He upped his civic generosity in the following four years with additional land donations that became Jackson and Belmont parks. The parks system took off in earnest, however, when McIntire donated Washington and McIntire parks in 1926. Washington Park was originally intended to serve Charlottesville’s African-American citizens.
Since the county isn’t as neighborhood-centric as the city, it has significantly less need for neighborhood parks that serve as community centers. According to Bob Crickenberger, deputy director for the County’s Parks and Recreation Depart-ment, the private communities popular in the county often build and maintain their own playgrounds. Of Albemarle’s nine parks, only five have playgrounds—most of which are secondary features to the main attractions of either swimming lakes or playing fields.
In 1972, Albemarle bought the land surrounding Crozet’s water supply and named it Mint Springs, thus adding life to the county’s park system, which began with the purchase of Chris Greene in 1971. Simpson Park, near Crozet and constructed in 2004, is the county’s latest playground. While there are no imminent plans for new playgrounds or renovations on existing ones, says Crickenberger, Albemarle’s recommended capital im-provements budget for 2006-’07 allocates $87,000 for parks and recreation. But, he says, “If we find something that needs replacement sooner, then we will juggle funds and do that.”
Still, as far as Crickenberger knows, at present all the county’s playgrounds are up-to-date and safe. The department checks up on them monthly and is “constantly refurbishing” the mulch.
Under the direction of Mike Svetz, the City’s director of parks and rec, Char-lottesville is beginning to evaluate the needs of its park system with a “Strategic Master Plan.” The 10-year timeline began this spring with assessments of the needs of both neighborhood and community parks as well as focus groups. The process will continue with a telephone survey of neighborhoods in August; the study should be complete in November 2005. It will pinpoint what needs to be renovated, what needs to be rebuilt entirely, and what needs to be built that was never there in the first place.
From there, says Svetz, “We want to be able to prioritize things based on need,” as opposed to which neighborhoods raise the most ruckus. But regardless, “Safety, safety, safety,” is the No. 1 priority. For fiscal year 2006, the City’s capital improvement budget allocated $200,000 to parks and recreation.
A-B-C, easy as 1-2-3
How each playground made the grade
Visiting each of the 20 parks ranked in this story, C-VILLE evaluated each playground based on seven characteristics across a scale of 1-10. Below are listed those characteristics and the weight each was given.—N.B.
Charlottesville
Meade
Location: Meade Avenue
How big: 5.2 acres
How old: 1945/60 years old
Grade: B+
Overall: Meade Avenue is a busy street, but the playground at Meade Park hides the traffic well. Set back from the street and behind a fence, the playground has two sections—one for the older kids with an elaborate new jungle gym that includes monkey bars, balance exercises and a swing set, and one for the little kids with a smaller jungle gym with smaller slides and a baby swing set. There’s a pretty decent pool, too.
The major point-loser here is shade. While there’s a sheltered picnic area between the two mini-playgrounds, there’s no shade for the play areas themselves. Plus, there’s the confusing aspect of where the park ends and people’s backyards begin. The park backs up on the backyards of the adjacent neighborhood, so that simply put, the geography of the place is a tad disorienting.
Washington
Location: Preston Avenue
How big: 9.25 acres
How old: 1926/79 years old
Grade: B-
Overall: Washington Park has a lot of things going for it—a new-ish, sufficiently dynamic jungle gym, plenty of green space to run, a lovely hillside stairway lined with day lilies, and a pool with a kick-ass water slide—but…but.
Spatially, Washington Park is a bit of a challenge. Especially if a guardian has more than one charge. More especially if those charges are different ages and want to do different things. The problem is that the baby playground is located down the hill and out of sight from the big-kid playground. Even a babysitter with eyes in the back of her head could not keep an eye on kids at both locations at the same time. Plus, to complicate matters, there’s no simple path between the two playgrounds if double duty is unavoidable.
Furthermore, the swing set for the big kids is situated such that it would be difficult to watch one kid swing and another kid on the jungle gym.
Riverview
Location: Corner of Chesapeake and Riverside streets
How big: 26.6 acres
How old: 1974/31 years old
Grade: D
Overall: It’s all well and good to take Fido for a run down at Riverview Park, but it’s a pretty pathetic place to take a kid. That’s because, well, the play equipment sucks. Not only is there not much selection, but what there is is in bad shape. The place hasn’t been updated since it was built in the ‘70s and the equipment includes swings, a nothing-but-the-basics jungle gym and four animals that bounce. All the structures are old, rusty and there’s chipped paint galore. Plus, instead of being set back in the open green space away from the cars, the playground hugs the parking lot.
Mike Svetz, director of the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department, explains that the problem with the Riverview playground is that it’s built in the flood way and that when the City redoes it, the play area will be moved beyond the parking lot, at the very least.
Azalea
Location: Off Old Lynchburg Road
How big: 23.02 acres
How old: 1965/40 years old
Grade: B
Overall: Azalea Park suffers from the same disease as Greenleaf (see page 22): It looks pretty from the parking lot but the sounds of Interstate 64 lose the park big points. Big points. Drive to the end of the park access road and there’s the playground, so while there’s no immediate traffic threat, hidden behind a wall of trees, the effects of 64 are more insidious.
The swing set is the low point of the play equipment. It’s rusty and the paint is chipping. Everything else—the merry-go-round, climbing structures, diggers and bouncy rides—is fine. There’s also a basketball court for the big kids and adults.
On the plus side are the walking trails and stream that, as with Riverview, bring dog lovers to the park in droves.
Belmont
Location: Center of Stonehenge and Druid avenues and Rialto Street
How big: 3.114 acres
How old: 1921/84 years old
Grade: A
Overall: Belmont Park is, by far, one of the nicest parks in the city. It’s got it all: It’s clean, the play equipment is sparkling, there’s plenty of green space and trees, a fun water park for hot days, a basketball court, and picnic shelter. Each section of the park, while autonomous, is well integrated into the park space to create “flow.”
The water park is the highlight with several fountains and showers that are a happy compromise between a pool and a hose. It’s also possible to sit by the water park and still see the kids playing on the jungle gym or swinging on the swing set. Every play area is within sight of the other play areas.
The only potential drawback is the street. While there’s plenty of green space separating the play areas from the road, on one side there’s no barrier between the park and the street.
McGuffey
Location: Off Second Street, NW
How big: 0.61 acres
How old: 1974/31 years
Grade: B+
Overall: The best thing about McGuffey Park? Location, location, location. It’s right Downtown and thus heavily trafficked by the Downtown community—little kids, big kids and adults alike. The next best thing about the park is its intimate feel.
While it has a lot going for it in theory, the equipment is out of date, with significant amounts of chipped paint and graffiti on the jungle gym. Moreover, the lack of a sidewalk at the Second Street entrance, coupled with a stone wall that drops off the edge of the park and into the road, poses safety concerns in terms of accessibility.
The North Downtown community, however, recognizes the park’s problems and is currently working with the City to renovate it within two years.
Tonsler
Location: Corner of Fifth Street SW and Cherry Avenue
How big: 3.74 acres
How old: 1948/57 years old
Grade: C
Overall: There’s no doubt the Tonsler play structure strikes an impressive pose. The large structure is unlike the cookie cutter, off-the-assembly-line mold of the structures at Meade, Washington, Rives and Pen parks; it’s a wooden castle that just goes on and on and on. But while the design may be unique, it offers plenty of nooks and crannies for monkey business, too. There are plentiful small spaces into which a guardian can’t see. For the less trusting (or the more neurotic mommies and daddies), this could pose a problem.
Another Tonsler issue is that the basketball courts are located right by busy Cherry Avenue. If a kid’s basketball rolls into the street, there’s no solid barrier to stop her from running out in traffic to retrieve it.
There is, however, a nice rec center at the center of the park that has bathrooms…and air-conditioning.
Pen
Location: Off Park Street/Rio Road
How big: 266 acres
How old: 1970/35 years old
Grade: A
Overall: It’s the general consensus around town that Pen Park is the queen bee of the City park system. She’s like a resort: There’s golf, tennis, even walking trails. Only the polo grounds are missing.
Just like the rest of it, the playground is perfect. The views of the hills that serve as the park’s backdrop are absolutely pastoral and the jungle gym is like new. The structure is split down the middle so that half serves the big kids and half serves the babies. Both halves have slides, tunnels, monkey bars and a swing set; the scales of the activities vary simply based on their target age demographics.
The three benches provided for the mommies, daddies, nannies, etc. are strategically placed underneath three trees at the edge of the playground so that while the kids might be baking in the sun, parents can enjoy the shade.
Forest Hills
Location: Forest Hills Avenue
How big: 7.35 acres
How old: 1955/50 years old
Grade: B
Overall: “Hills” is the operative word in “Forest Hills.” Tucked into a little valley between hills, the play area is well shielded from the street. Large, old trees add to the pleasant setting and offer up a plethora of shade. The expansive, open green spaces also provide lots of room to run and play.
The play equipment is fine, but not quite the caliber of its surroundings. The swing sets are rusty and situated in relation to the benches such that a guardian would have a difficult time watching one kid swing and another kid slide. The playground equipment includes monkey bars, a nothing-but-the-basics jungle gym, a mini-merry-go-round, and a couple other climbing apparatuses. Half of the equipment is old, with rust and chipped paint; half is new and A-O.K.
As with other parks with a water feature, the pool here is the main attraction.
Jordan
Location: Sixth Street SE
How big: 3.10 acres
How old: 1971/34 years old
Grade: C
Overall: Situated at the dead end of Sixth Street across from the Sunrise Trailer Park, Jordan Park needs maintenance. While there’s plenty of play equipment—two mini-playgrounds, one for the little kids and one for the older kids, plus a basketball court between the two—graffiti on the basketball courts and the older kids’ jungle gym gives the park an all-round run-down aura. Moreover, the graffiti doesn’t exactly offer the kids wholesome advice to live by. More trash than average doesn’t add to Jordan’s appeal, either. The dearth of trashcans probably contributes to this problem.
While the older kids’ playground is nestled at the shady, far corner of the park, the little kids’ playground is right by the side of the road without a solid barrier. In short, the setting isn’t so scenic.
Fifeville
Location: Intersection of Grove, Spring and Roy streets
How big: 0.66 acres
How old: 1949/56
Grade: D
Overall: Compare Fifeville Park to its North Down-town counterpart, McGuffey, and McGuffey looks downright luxurious. Situated right on the street, separated from traffic by a chain-link fence, Fifeville Park has an undeniably cramped feel. Not only is it right on the street, but there’s no sidewalk by the street entrance (though I grant you it’s a quiet street.)
The equipment is shabby at best. The pieces include a small jungle gym, swing set, merry-go-round and bouncy rides. So, there’s not much to choose from and chipped paint is the norm.
Northeast
Location: Corner of Sheridan Avenue and Calhoun Street
How big: 4.8 acres
How old: 1975/30 years old
Grade: B
Overall: Built into a shady hillside, Northeast is quiet and pleasant. There’s play equipment—jungle gyms and swings—for the big kids and the babies, all of which is in beautiful condition. There’s also a wooden bridge over a grassy gully that provides a pleasant nature area for both children and adults. The basketball courts, however, could use some attention: the backboards are shedding paint chips.
The drawback of the park is that it’s located on the corner of two streets and that that corner is a blind turn for motorists who tend to whiz around it faster than they should.
Rives
Location: Rives Street, between Monticello
and Florence roads
How big: 4.302 acres
How old: 1952/53 years old
Grade: B+
Overall: Rives Park is weird because it has two jungle gyms, but both appear to be aimed at the same age group—neither big kids, nor little kids. Both structures have medium-height slides, medium-height ledges. Everything is just “medium.” The structures are probably too big for the little babies and too boring for the bigger kids. It also has swings, bouncy rides and diggers. All the equipment is in ship-shape.
The best thing about the park is the abundant seating for parents and guardians. Fourteen benches line both mini-playgrounds, and while trees are planted around the play areas, they haven’t matured enough to offer much shade yet. One day, though, there will be as much shade as there is seating.
Greenleaf
Location: On Rose Hill Drive at Greenleaf Lane
How big: 14 acres
How old: 1952/53 years old
Grade: C
Overall: Tucked away behind Rose Hill Drive, Greenleaf Park’s first impressions are hunky dory. The trees are big, beautiful, and leafy; it’s off the street and secluded, even idyllic at first. But then, what’s that sound? That whooooosh through the trees? Oh, that’s 250, isn’t it? While Greenleaf may have a pretty face, it backs right up onto the Bypass and the sounds of whizzing traffic greatly detract from a relaxing park-going experience. There’s only a chain-link fence and a shallow wall of trees protecting the park and obscuring the highway.
That said, there’s a good selection of play equipment both for the big kids and for the babies. It’s about half old equipment and half new. The new pieces are in good condition but, predictably, the older stuff is showing its age. In particular, there’s a turtle-shaped climbing structure for the little kids with paint so chipped it may as well not be painted at all.
McIntire East
Location: 250 Bypass across from the Covenant School
How big: 55 acres
How old: 1926/79 years old
Grade: D
Overall: If a symphony of traffic makes Greenleaf Park less than what it could be, then McIntire East is a lost cause altogether. Located about 20 feet from the scenic 250 Bypass, the park makes no attempt to hide its backdrop with landscaping or a solid wall. So, cars set the stage and the sour scent of gasoline wafts through the air of this entirely disheartening playground experience.
The play equipment is old and worn. There’s a swing set, four bouncy rides, and a jungle gym covered in chipped paint, slides and tunnels. The wading pool below is probably the highlight, but even that’s grubby.
McIntire West
Location: Off 250 Bypass
How big: 80 acres
How old: 1926/79 years old
Grade: B-
Overall: While located off the Bypass, the playground at McIntire West is far enough down the park access road that the sounds of the highway don’t intrude too rudely on the park’s peace and quiet.
The playground itself is modest. Crammed into a small space by the bathrooms, there’s a set of parallel bars, a wooden tunnel, monkey bars, baby swings, and a jungle gym with a slide and tic-tac-toe. Not only is there not much to choose from, but the equipment that is there is ratty. The metal handles of many of the pieces are rusty and there’s plenty of chipped paint.
It’s likely that the main appeal is the playfields and picnic structures, where there is plenty of open space.
Albemarle County
Darden Towe
Location: Route 20N off Route 250E
How big: 110 acres
How old: 1990/15 years
Grade: B+
Overall: The thing to remember about Darden Towe is that the playing fields are the main idea. That said, it’s got a playground and it ain’t half bad. The park’s general setting is quiet and green, getting this outdoor experience off on the right foot. The play equipment itself does the job, too: tire swing, slide and wooden jungle gym with monkey bars.
Though wooden and therefore splinter-prone, the jungle gym is in remarkably good condition, with no graffiti or noticeably rough edges. Unfortunately, there’s little shade by the play area. There is, however, plenty of room to sit and fan oneself: a beautiful stone wall surrounding the playground makes a convenient bench.
Mint Springs
Location: Off Route 684 in Crozet
How big: 514 acres
How old: 1972/33 years
Grade: B+
Overall: Nestled between mountains and a lake, Mint Springs’ setting is breathtaking. Views don’t get much better than this, so the backdrop makes up for a lot of what the playground itself lacks. The only real piece of play equipment is a large jungle gym that comes complete with slides, monkey bars and tunnels. There are no swings, however, for the little ones that like the wind in their hair. Should kids take a shine to the jungle gym, there are only two benches for the parents, so it could be a squeeze.
The swimming area is just across the way, providing entertainment galore. You have to pay to get in, but it’s worth it.
Dorrier
Location: Off W. Main Street in Scottsville
How big: 2 acres
How old: 1993/12 years
Grade: C
Overall: Located in the center of Scottsville, the Dorrier playground is sandwiched between two parking lots. Charming. To make matters worse, there’s no shade and the seating options are dismal: no benches adjacent to the play area. One can, however, find solace from the heat and a place to rest one’s feet under the picnic shelter, set back a bit from the play area, and thus not optimally located to keep an eye on the little ones and relax at the same time.
The playground equipment is to the point. There’s one jungle gym divided into halves—half for the babies and half for the big kids. It’s got big and little slides and swings, along with the usual monkey bars.
The Scottsville Farmer’s Market is just across the way, so if the playground isn’t making the grade, some of the cookies and cakes the Scottsville vendors hawk every day might brighten the mood.
Chris Greene
Location: Out Airport Road
How big: 184 acres
How old: 1971/34 years
Grade: C
Overall: The fact that the Chris Green playground is hidden back in the woods has both pluses and minuses. On the one hand, when sweating out the dog days of summer, plenty o’ shade is welcome. On the other hand, the playground is so shady that there is literally no sun shining down on it. Moreover, the playground is not located within comfortable walking distance to the swimming area so it does not work as a supplement to the swimming area (see Mint Springs).
As for the play equipment itself, it’s old, weathered and there’s not a lot to choose from. There’s a wood play structure with a short slide, ramp, bridge, two baby swings and a rusty beam to hang from. Plus you have to pay to get in. So if the playground is all you’re after (which, granted, is unlikely), it’s not worth the charge at the gate.
Simpson
Location: Off Porters Road in Scottsville
How big: 13.6 acres
How old: 2004/1 year
Grade: B+
Overall: This place is a little “Twilight Zone.” Drive off into the middle of nowhere for miles and, all of a sudden, a brand new playground materializes by the side of the backcountry road. Benjamin Franklin Yancey Elementary School across the street puts the playground into context, but it’s still a surprise.
This park, while it may not have a lot of shade or seating, is pristine. The jungle gym is brightly colored, with slides, a climbing wall, stepping stones, monkey bars and more. Plus there are swings, basketball courts, tennis courts and a mini-water park with showers to cool off the kids after a thousand trips down the hot slides.