revised 6/22/06 by Stowe Keller
This partial listing of Charlottesville area parks is a work in progress and will be updated on an on-going basis.

Printable brochure for Parks in Albemarle County Virginia

May, 2004 Update:
The City and County have made arrangements with Piedmont Virginia Community College to create an off-leash area for dogs but it is up to the public to assist in fundraising to cover construction costs.  Call the City of Charlottesville Parks Division at (434) 970-3589 to find out how you can help!

Trail renovation, including erosion control, is complete at Riverview Park.  Renovations are in progress at Jackson Park.

The County of Albemarle Parks and Recreation has begun work on the creation of a new county park at the end of Woodburn Road at the boat launch to facilitate reservoir access.
 
 
Charlottesville's Leash Law
As of January, 2002, the City has a leash law which requires that dogs be on a leash and under control in all city parks, except for inside the fenced off-leash area at Azalea Park, and for certain designated portions of Riverview Park only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Pay attention to the signs!  Violations of the City leash law are a Class 4 Misdemeanor.

Darden Towe Park, although jointly funded by the City, is a County park governed by County regulations.  Dogs must be on leash and under control in Darden Towe except for inside the fenced off-leash area located about 200 feet east of the picnic shelter.  (The picnic shelter is located at the north end of the upper parking lot.)

Remember, since 2001 the City also has a law requiring cleanup of dog feces -- look for the plastic poop bag dispensers/waste containers in the parks.  Failure to clean up after a dog in your care is a Class 4 misdemeanor.


Charlottesville – Albemarle Area Parks
Park Name
County parks and 
those with fees 
are labelled
Dogs 
Allowed?
Size 
(acres)
Play-
ground?
Swimming? Fishing? Sports
facilities,
activities?
Walking 
trails?
Azalea Yes
(off-leash, 
   fenced-in 
  dog area)
23 Yes No No Basketball
Softball
Volleyball poles
(no net -- 
  bring your own)
Yes --
access to
Rivanna
Trails

Bailey Yes
(on-leash only)
Mini-park
(0.33 acre)
No No No No No
Belmont Yes (on-leash) 3.1 Yes spray pool No Basketball No
Beaver Creek
(County)
Yes
(on-leash only)
115 land 
104 water 
No No Yes No ?
Chris Greene Lake
(County)
summer admission fee
Yes
(on-leash only)
120 land
62 water
? Yes;
2 beach acres
Yes boat launch,
canoe rental
Yes
Claudius Crozet
(Private park in county)
? 22 land
1 water
Yes Swimming 
pool
? Baseball
Basketball
Horseshoe
Arts & Crafts 
  Festival
?
Cove Creek
(Private park in county)
? ? ? No No Baseball,
softball
?
Darden Towe
(County)
Yes
(Off-leash, fenced-in dog area)
110 Yes No Yes softball,
tennis,
boat launch,
multi-use
 fields,
shelter
Yes
Dorrier
(County)
? No No No softball, soccer, 
tennis
No
Fifeville Yes (on-leash) Mini-park
(0.66 acre)
Yes No No Basketball No
Forest Hills Yes (on-leash) 7.6 Yes Wading pool No Basketball
Softball
No
Greenbrier Yes (on-leash) 28.3 No No No No Yes --
part of
Rivanna
Trails

Greenleaf Yes (on-leash) 14 Yes Spray pool No Basketball Yes --
short
nature
walk
Ivy Creek
Natural Area
(County)
No Pets 215  No No Yes No;
quiet walking
and
nature observation
only
6+ miles
Jackson Yes
(on-leash only)
0.4 No No No No No
Jordan Yes (on-leash) 3.1 Yes No No Basketball Yes --
part of Rivanna
Trails

Lee Yes
(on-leash only)
1.04 No No No No No
McGuffey Yes
(on-leash only)
1.1 Yes No No Basketball No
McIntire Yes (on-leash) 135.4 Yes Wading pool No Golf
Softball
Skateboard
Picnic shelters
2 miles
thru woods
created 2006

Meade Yes (on-leash) 5.2 Yes Pool No Basketball
Softball
No
Meadowcreek Yes (on-leash) 20 No No No No
-- only garden plots
No
Mint Springs
(County)
summer admission fee
Yes
(on-leash only)
504 land
8 water
2 beach
Yes Yes Yes No 3+ miles
Northeast Yes (on-leash) 4.8 Yes No No Basketball No
Pen Yes
(on-leash only)
280 Yes No No Tennis
Volleyball
Golf
Walking
Picnic shelters
Yes
Quarry Yes (on-leash) 7.5 No No No 2 ball fields Yes --
part of
Rivanna
Trails

Riverview /
Rivanna Greenbelt
Yes (partial
off-leash)
26.6 Yes No No Biking
Jogging
2.5 miles
-- part of
Rivanna
Trails

Rives Yes (on-leash) 4.3 Yes No No Basketball
Playing field
No
Ragged Mtn.
Natural Area
(County)
No Pets 980 land
65 water
No No Yes No;
quiet walking
and nature
observation only
7 miles
Shenandoah 
National Park
Yes
(on-leash only)
197,411 No Yes Yes, 
with some 
exceptions
Hiking
Camping
500+ 
miles
Simpson Park
(County)
Located on Route 627 in Esmont across from Yancey Elementary.  Closes daily one hour after dark.
Yes
(on-leash only)
13.6 No Spray pool No 1 Basketball court
2 Tennis courts
Little League field
Multi-use field
Soccer
small Picnic shelter
   with one grill
No
Starr Hill  Yes
(on-leash only)
Mini-park
(0.4 acre)
No No No No No
Tonsler Yes (on-leash only) 7.4 Yes No No Basketball
Tennis
Softball
Rec. Center
No
Totier Creek
(County)
Yes
(on-leash only)
144 land
66 water
No No Yes boat launch ?
Walnut Creek
(County)
summer admission fee
Yes
(on-leash only)
480 land
45 water
2 beach
No Yes Yes boat launch
canoe rental
Mtn. biking
hiking
running
15 miles
Booker T. Washington Yes (on-leash) 9.3 Yes Pool No Basketball
Softball
Rec. Center
No
Charlotte Humphris
(formerly Whitewood)
(no public parking)
Yes
(on-leash only)
23
No No No walking 1 mile

 
Information on Virginia's State Parks can be found here.