NATURE PARKS

TAKE IN THE REGION’S BEAUTY AT ONE OF THE MANY PARKS IN THE AREA

The Peninsula and surrounding areas have a wide variety of parks offering year-round activities. Some highlights:

Charles City County

Chickahominy Wildlife Management

Area. Bird watching, hunting, fishing, shooting range, public boat access. A $4 access permit is needed for visitors ages 17 and older who do not have a Virginia hunting or fishing license or boating registration. Route 5 and Chickahominy River. 12510 Eagles Nest Road. 804-8296580. dgif.virginia.gov/wmas

Gloucester County

Gloucester County Parks and Recreation. 8 0 4 - 6 9 3 -2 3 5 5. gloucester va. info/ Parks and Recreation

Abingdon Park. Picnic area and shelter, soccer, softball, restrooms. Next to Abingdon Elementary School, 7087 Powhatan Drive.

Beaverdam Park. Canoe, kayak, johnboat and paddle boat rentals; geocaching; playground; wildlife observation; picnic areas with grills; biking; hiking; horseback trails; fishing; volleyball; horseshoes; restrooms. Fishing and hunting licenses for sale. Fishing pier, picnic shelter and one lodge available for rent. 8687 Roaring Springs Road and a secondary entrance at 9537 Farys Mill Road. 804-693-2107.

Gloucester Point Beach Park. Picnic shelter, volleyball, beach, swimming, playground, picnic areas with grills. Fishing pier, outdoor shower and public boat ramp. 1255 Greate Road, Gloucester Point.

Tyndall’s Point Park. Named after Robert Tyndall, who charted the James and York rivers in 1608. York River fort, used during the Revolution and Civil wars, was located at the site. Picnic area, earthworks, interpretive trail. 1376 Vernon St.

Hampton

Hampton Parks and Recreation. 7276348. hampton.gov/parks

Air Power Park. 15-acre park displaying the air power that played a vital part in America’s early space exploration and aircraft testing. Free. Open daily, sunrise to sunset. Wheelchair accessible. 413 W. Mercury Blvd. 726-0650.

Bluebird Gap Farm. A 60-acre farm with more than 150 domestic and wild animals, picnic shelter with grill, picnic tables, antique display barn, playground, nature trail, stage with seating, display garden and arboretum. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Monday. 60 Pine Chapel Road. 8272765. hampton.gov/bbgf

Carousel Park. Wooden carousel from

1920. Has 48 horses and two chariots. Hours vary; opens for season from April through December. Rides are $1. 602 Settlers Landing Road. 727-1610.

Grandview Nature Preserve. Marshland, beach area. Endangered birds and other wildlife. Open year round from sunrise to sunset. No wheelchair access. State Park Drive, off Beach Road in northeast Hampton.

Woodland Skateboard Park. Open sunrise to sunset for bikers, skateboards and in-line skaters. 9 Woodland Road.

Isle of Wight County

Isle of Wight Parks and Recreation.

357-2291.

Carrollton Nike Park. Softball and soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, picnic areas, a fishing pier, kayak launch, nature and mountain bike trails, skate park, playground, senior center, recreation hall and multipurpose room on site of former missile base. Park open from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week. 13036 Nike Park Road, Carrollton. 357-2291.

Fort Boykin Historic Park. A part of American history since 1623, constitutes a well-preserved example of military architecture of the Civil War era. Picnic shelter, beach access. Hours vary by season. 7410 Fort Boykin Trail, Smithfield. 357-2291.

Windsor Castle Park. Walking and biking trails, kayak and canoe launch, dog park, picnic area, orchards, fishing pier and Windsor Castle historic site. Entrance to bike path is beside the dog park. Free. Open dawn to dusk daily. 301 Jericho Road, downtown Smithfield. 365-4200.

James City County

James City County Parks and Recreation. 259-3200. jccegov.com/recreation

Chickahominy Riverfront Park. 140-acre facility on the Chickahominy River. Includes swimming pool, playground, boat ramp and rentals, fishing pier, campsites. 1350 John Tyler Highway. 258-5020.

Freedom Park. 689 acres including the Williamsburg Botanical “Ellipse Garden.” Home to one of the nation’s earliest free black settlements. Hiking and biking trails. Interpretive center and meeting rooms. Open daily 7 a.m. to sunset. 5537 Centerville Road. 259-4022.

Upper County Park. Outdoor swimming pool, sand volleyball, basketball, multi-use trails, 3.5-mile mountain bike trail, horseshoe pits, picnic shelters, primitive camping and playground. 180 Leisure Road, Toano. 566-1451 (summer) or 259-5360.

Newport News

Newport News Parks and Recreation.

13560 Jefferson Ave. 757-886-7912. nngov.com/parks-and-recreation. Rentals (camping and picnic shelters) 757-888-3333 or nnparks.com/picnic/. Anderson Park and Peterson’s Yacht

Basin. Athletic field, basketball, beach, biking, interpretive programs, saltwater fishing, picnic shelters, baseball/softball, tennis, playground, public boat ramp and restrooms. Not wheelchair accessible. 16th Street and Oak Avenue.

Huntington Park. Virginia War Museum, Fort Fun playground, fishing pier, beach, public boat ramp, volleyball, tennis, rose garden, C&O steam locomotive, lighted athletic fields, snacks, restrooms. Wheelchair accessible. Off West Mercury Boulevard near James River Bridge. Special events: 888-3333.

Newport News Park. 7,711-acre park offers arboretum, archery, bike rentals and trails, campgrounds, boat ramp, boat, canoe and paddle boat rentals, pier, disc golf, horseback riding, freshwater fishing, picnic shelters, aeromodelers flying field, playgrounds, volleyball, floral gardens, stages, trails, golf course, driving range, eateries and restrooms. Discovery Center. 13560 Jefferson Ave.

Norfolk

Town Point Park. City park with outdoor amphitheater that hosts many weekend festivals. Waterside Drive. 441-2345. festevents.org/venues/town-point-park

Poquoson

Poquoson Parks and Recreation. 868

3580. poquoson-va.gov

Messick Point Boat Ramp. Two double boat ramps, 50 vehicle/trailer parking spaces. Handicapped-accessible. At the end of Messick Road.

Phillips Park. Kids Island playground, soccer and baseball fields and tennis courts. 51 Odd Road.

Suffolk

Suffolk Parks and Recreation. 134 S. 6th St. 514-7250. suffolk.va.us/parks

Lone Star Lakes Park. Wilderness park, 11 lakes. Crabbing, freshwater fishing piers, playground, horse and hiking trails, picnic area, model-airplane flying field, archery range. 401 Kings Highway. 255-4032.

Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge.

Boardwalk trail, hiking and biking, boating, camping in the largest intact stretch of swamp that once covered over a million acres in southeast Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. 3100 Desert Road. 9 8 6 -3 7 0 5. fws.gov/refuge/Great_Dismal_Swamp/

Surry County

Hog Island Wildlife Management Area. Seasonal hunting. Fishing. Trails, ponds, bird watching and hiking. Public boat ramp. 7938 Hog Island Road (end of Route 650). 804-829-6580. dgif.virginia.gov/wmas

Virginia Beach

Mount Trashmore. 165 acres. Former landfill turned recreation hill. Kids’ playgrounds, fishing, picnic shelters, paths, volleyball, horseshoes, outdoor fitness stations, skate park and restrooms. 310 Edwin Drive. 385-2995.

Williamsburg

Williamsburg Parks and Recreation. 259-3760. williamsburgva.gov

Quarterpath Park. 23 acres. Recreation center, softball, tennis, basketball, volleyball, aerobics and dance rooms, pool, playground, three lighted softball fields. 202 Quarterpath Road, off Route 60 East. 259-3766 (pool), 259-3760 (recreation center).

Redoubt Park. Dedicated on May 5, 2007, to celebrate the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Williamsburg. Two redoubts, historic interpretation and scenic views. 510 Quarterpath Road.

Waller Mill Park. Lake, pier, boat and canoe rentals, fishing, nature and fitness trails, disc golf, playground, lookout-tower trail, observation tower, senior citizens walking trail, picnic tables, play fields, shelters, cornhole game and fishing pole rentals. Separate dog park. 901 Airport Road. 259-3778.

York County

York County Parks and Recreation. 100 County Drive .890-3500. yorkcounty.gov/parksandrec

Kiln Creek Park. 21 acres. Soccer field, baseball field, basketball court, picnic shelter, picnic tables, playground and restrooms. Located in Kiln Creek subdivision, 2901 Kiln Creek Parkway.

New Quarter Park. 545 acres. Youth mountain bike trail, picnic pavilions, hiking, biking, basketball, boat ramps, piers, fishing, disc golf, playground, wildflower meadow, horseshoes, softball, volleyball and restrooms. Wheelchair

York River State Park. The 2,531-acre park offers boat ramps, picnic area, playground, visitors’ center, hiking, biking and horse trails, guided canoe trips, fossil hikes, “ghost night” hikes, wildlife observations, seasonal boat and recreational equipment rentals. 9801 York River Park Road. 566-3036. d cr. virginia. gov/ state-parks/ york-river.shtml