RVA's Best Parks and Playgrounds
- The West End Mom
- May 14, 2025
- 12 min read
Updated: May 28, 2025
Looking for the BEST playgrounds around Richmond, Virginia? I've got you!
After visiting more than 40 playgrounds around RVA with my kids, I am ranking the top 15 in the Richmond Metro Area based on superlatives like RVA's Best Playground for Shade, RVA's Best Playground for Bike Rides, RVA's Playground with the Best View... and more!
To make it even easier for your family to enjoy these public parks and playgrounds, I've included all my tips and tricks for visiting each playground too! All of the parks and playgrounds on my list are free to visit - no admission cost necessary.
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Quick View of the top 15 parks & playgrounds around Richmond, Virginia:
I created superlatives based on what I look for in parks for my own family and based on the questions I receive the most often from YOU, the community! These superlatives cover the top 15 parks and playgrounds around Richmond, Virginia. You will notice that some RVA parks and playgrounds made this list multiple times - I think they are the best all around parks in the Richmond Metro Area.
1.RVA's Biggest Playground Space: Taylor Farm Park (Henrico)
2.RVA's Only Indoor Playground: Southside Community Center (City of Richmond)
3. RVA's Biggest Fenced-in Playground: Park 365 (City of Richmond)
4. RVA's Best Playground for Toddlers: Grayland Tot Lot (City of Richmond)
5. RVA's Best Playground for Big Kids: Taylor Farm Park (Henrico)
6. RVA's Best Shaded Playground: Grayland Tot Lot (City of Richmond)
7. RVA's Playground with the Best View of The City: Jefferson Hill Park (City of Richmond)
8.RVA's Best Pump Track: Deep Run Park (Henrico)
9.RVA's Best Inclusive Park: Huguenot Park (Chesterfield)
10.RVA's Best Nature Center: Rockwood Park (Chesterfield)
11.RVA's Best Park for Biking with Kids: Midlo-Mines Park (Chesterfield)
12.RVA's Best Park for Strolling with Baby: Deep Run Park (Henrico)
13.RVA's Best Park for a Stroller Workout: Maymont Park (City of Richmond)
14.RVA's Best Playground for Football Fans: Play 60 Obstacle Course (City of Richmond)
15.RVA's Best Park with Multiple Activities: Crump Park (Glen Allen)
16.RVA's Most Unique Hike: Dodd Park (Chester)
17.RVA's Most Underrated Park: Osborne Landing Park (Henrico)
18.RVA's Easiest Nature Walk with Kids: Tuckahoe Creek Park (Henrico)
19.RVA's Best School Playground: tied between St. Christopher's School (private) & Mary Munford Elementary (City of Richmond)
If you would like a comprehensive guide to Richmond's parks and playgrounds, check out this guide. It has over 40 parks in the Richmond Metro Area.
RVA's Top 15 Parks and Playgrounds:
This list is in alphabetical order by park name. You will notice some park's won multiple accolades. These parks are a can't miss in Richmond!
1.Crump Park (Henrico)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best Park with Multiple Activities
ADDRESS: 3400 Mountain Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Playground, animals and trains, oh my! Crump Park has playgrounds, picnic shelters, trails, large open fields, and a fishing pond. It also has the Parsons Community Center and Meadow Farm Museum. Meadow Farm is an 1860 living history farm site & museum, plus it has animals, too! As a bonus, RF&P Park is located inside Crump.
This is also the site of Henrico County Recreation & Park's annual July 4th event: Red, White and Lights! This Independence Day event is free and open to the public.
*Check here for my review.
Honorable Mention for Parks with Multiple Activities:
Rockwood Park & Nature Center
2.Deep Run Park (Henrico)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best Pump Track & RVA's Best Park for Strolling with Baby
ADDRESS: 9900 Ridgefield Pkwy, Richmond, VA 23233
This 165 acre park has so much for families to enjoy! Deep Run has a pond, 3.4 miles of paved trails, two separate playgrounds, picnic shelters, a basketball court, soccer fields, and multiple open spaces. It also has the first pump track in central Virginia.
Anyone can maneuver the course regardless of age or skill level. I’ve seen children 2-3 years old on balance bikes riding the course. You’re supposed to shift your body weight (*pumping*) to propel yourself through the course.
*Check here for my full review of Deep Run Park's Pump Track.
Honorable Mention for RVA's Best Pump Tracks:
Belle Isle has a dirt pump track, and it’s free to visit! Check here for my review of Belle Isle BMX Track.
Taylor Farm Park also has an all-wheel park, and it is largest All Wheels Park in Central Virginia! Check here for my full review of Taylor Farm Park's all wheel park.
3.Dodd Park at Point of Rocks (Chester)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Most Unique Hike
ADDRESS: 201 Enon Church Rd, Chester, VA 23836
Officially known as R. Garland Dodd Park at Point of Rocks, Dodd Park covers 176 acres. It’s located on the banks of the Appomattox River & has a bunch of different spaces for families to explore.
The upper area has athletic fields, picnic areas, a large playground area, swings & exercise equipment. The lower area has a play space with great shade!
This highlight of this park is the floating boardwalk! It goes over tidal marsh & has spectacular views It takes ~10-15 minutes to walk from the parking lot directly to the boardwalk. If you’re looking for a longer hike, there are 2.7 miles of trails!
Check here for my full review of Dodd Park's boardwalk hike. Heads up, you will need to leave your stroller at the stairs to walk down to the floating boardwalk.
Honorable Mention:
4. Grayland Tot Lot (City of Richmond)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best Shaded Playground & RVA's Best Playground for Toddlers
ADDRESS: 3015 Grayland Ave, Richmond, VA 23221
This playground was completely renovated in August of 2023. The play space now has a turf surface with push toys including a cozy coop. It has a playground for babies - crawler to ~2 years old. There are plenty of thrills for preschoolers & big kids too! The 2 story play structure is designed for 5-12 years old & there’s one created for 2-5 year olds. It has a space net close to the ground with low course challenges. And, the playground has COMPLETE shade and a FENCE!
Check here for my full review of Grayland Tot Lot.
Honorable Mention for RVA's Best Playground for Toddlers:
1.Huguenot Park is fully fenced with sand play and inclusive features.
2.Wishing Well Park is full fenced in with sand play, pretend play and the popular grown-up and me swing!
5. Huguenot Park (Chesterfield)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best Inclusive Park & RVA's Best Sand Play
ADDRESS: 10901 Robious Road North Chesterfield, VA 23235.
Huguenot Park’s popular playground underwent a $700,000 facelift to create a new, modernized play space for all abilities & all ages. This space includes: accessibility from parking lot to playground, the original, iconic entrance, smooth rubber surfacing under the play structures, a new sand play area, two large play structures - one for younger kids & one for big kids, lots of swings - baby swings, saucers, all accessible & double swings, hills, tunnels & playhouses, musical instruments, and plenty of benches & picnic tables
Honorable Mention for Inclusive Park
Park 365 (City of Richmond)
White Bank Park (Colonial Heights)
Honorable Mention for Sand Play:
Twin Hickory Park: Check here for my review.
Glover Park: Check here for my review.
6.Jefferson Hill Park (City of Richmond)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Playground with the Best View of The City
ADDRESS: E Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23223
This park has complete views on the River City, including Main Street Station & the incoming trains! It has a large play area with swings & paved walking trails with exercise equipment along it. Jefferson Hill Park has plenty of green space for running around after toddlers, family picnics & watching sunsets.
*Check here for my review.
Honorable Mention for RVA's Playground with the Best Views:
Chimborazo Park: Stretching ~30 acres, Chimborazo Park has gorgeous views of the city and one of the most unique statues in Richmond — a miniature Statue of Liberty!! While there are plenty of trails and green space in the park, the highlight for families with little kids is the playground. It’s about a block from the park, and it’s easy to walk to and from both areas. Renovated in 2009, the playground has a community garden, basketball courts & a play space with swings and a playground.Check here for my review.
7.Maymont Park (City of Richmond)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best Park for a Stroller Workout & RVA's Best Park to See Animals ADDRESS: 1700 Hampton St, Richmond, VA 23220
With 100 acres, Maymont Park is the perfect spot to explore with children. You can feed animals in the Children’s Farm, picnic on the hills + explore the Japanese Garden. Almost the entire property has paved paths, so it’s stroller friendly (and a workout). We especially love visiting in the spring to see flowers, and the fall to see the pretty leaves.
Honorable Mention for RVA's Best Stroller Workout
Virginia Capital Trail (City of Richmond)
University of Richmond's campus (Henrico and City of Richmond)
Honorable Mention for RVA's Best Park to See Animals
Crump Park (Glen Allen)
8. Midlo-Mines Park (Chesterfield)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best Park for Biking with Kids
ADDRESS: 13301 N. Woolridge Rd., Midlothian, VA 23114
Located in Chesterfield, this 44 acre park offers paved walking trails, a tunnel, wildlife, a lake and bridges. What makes this park so unique is that it is where the first commercially mined coal came from in 1701. Throughout the park, there are signs explaining the cut stone ruins, coal mining and industrial revolution.
This is a great park for riding bikes because the pathways are a mix of hard pack and pavement, the trail is wide in most parts, and you will find great shade during the spring and summer months.
If you would like to learn more about bike riding with kids around Richmond, here's my guide to kid-friendly bike and scooter paths in RVA.
9.Osborne Landing Park (Henrico)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Most Underrated Park
ADDRESS: 9530 Osborne Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23231.
Located in Eastern Henrico, Osborne Landing Park is on James River! At the first parking lot, you'll find a fenced in playground, two picnic shelters & a paved trail from the playground to the river. My littles love the water themed playground - the "boat" has slides & climbing areas.
The playground flooring is a mix of mulch, ADA surface and sand. If you keep driving towards the river, you'll find the boat slip, canoe launch, fishing pier & swings with views of the river! You can even walk to The Lily Pad to enjoy some kid-friendly, outside dining and river views!
Heads up: This playground has full sun, and the equipment can get hot on summer days!
*Check here for a full review.
10.Play 60 Obstacle Course (City of Richmond)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Playground with the Best View of The City
ADDRESS: 2401 West Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23220
*Use street parking on W. Leigh Street right after you pass Myers Street & train tracks.
Located at Bon Secours Washington Commanders Training Center, this obstacle course is such a fun spot to visit with football fans. Kids can test their agility skills on the ninja steps, floating boards & a traverse wall. It also has a turf surface - great for new walkers.
This is such a fun spot to visit before dining in Scott’s Addition - get all the wiggles out & then have a family meal!
*Check here for my full review of Washington Commander's Play 60 Obstacle Course.
11.Rockwood Park & Nature Center (Chesterfield County)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best Nature Center at a Park
ADDRESS: 3401 Courthouse Road Richmond, VA 23236
Chesterfield County's oldest park spans 171 acres! While it has a sports complex, archery range, dog park, gardens and trails, and a playground, the highlight of this park is the nature center. The nature center is FREE to visit.
The Nature Center is typically open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4pm. Hours extend over summer break and on school holidays.
12.Southside Community Center (City of Richmond)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Only Indoor Park & Playground
ADDRESS: Southside Community Center, 6255 Old Warwick Road, Richmond, VA 23224 HOURS: The indoor playground will be open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and from 9am-6pm on Saturdays. Closed on Sundays.
Southside Community Center just reopened after its $20 million renovation. It's apart of the City of Richmond Parks and Rec, so it’s free to visit & open to the public!!
This public community center is now double the size with so many areas to enjoy — inside & outside. It even has Richmond’s first indoor, public playground!!
The indoor playground includes features like soft flooring for sock play, play equipment for little kids, massive climbing net, 2 large play structures for climbing & exploring, 2 large tube slides, a climbing wall, and lots of space to crawl, run & move around!
13.Taylor Farm Park (Henrico)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best Playground for Big Kids, RVA's Most Unique Water Play & RVA's Biggest Playground Space
ADDRESS: 200 Whiteside Rd, Sandston, VA 23150
At just over 99 acres, Taylor Farm Park is unlike any other park in the area! It has a nature play area, an interactive stream & splash park, walking trails & all-wheel park. Notable features include: an event space, a destination skatepark, a 1-mile paved walking trail, 2 nature-based playgrounds including one w/ ADA surface & accessible features, 3 zip lines, and a splash park, misting mounds & a man-made stream for play!
Honorable Mention for RVA's Best Playground for Big Kids:
Harrowgate Park: Located on 35 acres, this Chesterfield park is directly across from Harrowgate Elementary School. It has a large, new play area with climbing features, slides, and two smaller play structures. The climbing structure is the largest I've seen around RVA! The bathrooms are next to the play space. You'll also find a large grassy lawn, picnic shelter, and paved walking trails.
*Check here for my full review on Taylor Farm Park's playground, here for a review on the water play, and here for my review on the All-Wheel- Park.
SUPERLATIVE: RVA’s easiest Nature Walk with Kids
ADDRESS: 12341 Ridgefield Pkwy, Henrico, VA 23233
*There is only street parking. We like to park at the Old Coach Lane entrance.
Tuckahoe Creek Park’s boardwalk is located at the end of Ridgefield Parkway in Henrico. It has beautiful views of Tuckahoe Creek with benches & a picnic shelter. Eventually, this boardwalk will be a trail of boardwalks that wind through the floodplain wetlands. Currently, only “Phase I” of the project is completed: a bridge from Ridgefield Parkway to Old Coach Lane.
This is the easiet nature walk to try with kids -- I love to use it on rainy, hot or cold days as an easy way to get out of the house. It’s perfect for children to walk, watch for wildlife & see the wetlands. It’s also incredibly peaceful!
15.St. Christopher's School (private school in City of Richmond)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best School Playground (tied)
ADDRESS: 711 St Christopher's Rd, Richmond, VA 23226
This playground is massive, with so many climbing areas, a soft flooring, two story play set, a soccer field + more. It’s located off Pepper Avenue & parking is directly in front of the playground. If this playground is too crowded, there’s a smaller one on the other side of the school.
Since it is a private school, you can’t play on it during school days (8AM-5:30pm). It is open on the weekends and outside of school hours for community play.
*Check here for my review.
16.Mary Munford Elementary (RCPS, City of Richmond)
SUPERLATIVE: RVA's Best School Playground (tied)
ADDRESS: 211 Westmoreland St, Richmond, VA 23226
This is one of our favorite playgrounds because there are so many play spaces. It has two playgrounds, a climbing playset & lots of swings. There’s a giant picnic shelter, tennis courts, basketball courts, a large athletic field + exercise equipment.
Since it is part of the City of Richmond Public Schools, you can’t play on it during school days (8AM-3PM). It is open all day to the public during the summer!
*Check here for my review.
Honorable Mention for RVA's Best School Playgrounds:
Mount Vernon Baptist Church: This church & preschool is located in Glen Allen off Nuckols Road. The playground is large with three different fenced in areas: one for babies & walkers, one for preschoolers and one for elementary schoolers. There’s also a large grassy space to play. We have so much fun here! Check here for my review.
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Looking for more Richmond playgrounds to visit? Check out my guide to The Best Fenced Playgrounds around Richmond.
If you have babies or toddlers, check out my guide on The Best Playgrounds in Richmond for Little Kids!
For details on these Virginia places and more things to do with kids around Richmond, follow our family on @thewestendmom on Instagram!
