Danville Parks and Recreation: Our Parks Are Getting More Playful
Danville Parks and Recreation is celebrating recent accomplishments and future activities in 2023 and beyond. The department is groundbreaking on several projects and preparing plans and funding for more improvements to the park system in the upcoming years.
Third Avenue Park is now under construction. Its splash pad will be the first in Danville and will come with a new playground, restroom facility, and parking lot. Doyle Thomas Park is going through similar renovations and will be updated with a splash pad this year as well. Ballou Park is also slated to host a large-scale splash pad and is in the design process now.
Danville’s newest regional park, Riverfront Park, will break ground this spring. In the River District and adjacent to the Dan River, the park will include an event space, otter play feature, splash area, small stage, connection to the Riverwalk Trail, kayak launch, and parking.
Westmoreland Neighborhood Park is also breaking ground this year. For over five years, residents have been working with local organizations, the City, and other community partners to design and fundraise for the park. Their hard work has laid the groundwork for how others in the community can advocate for a new park and work with Danville Parks and Recreation to align their vision with existing park plans and capacity. Westmoreland residents continue to fundraise as they work towards completing later phases of park implementation.
Many existing neighborhood parks are tagged for improvement and last year, Doyle Thomas Park, Pumpkin Creek Park, and Coates Park went through a resident-led design process. Residents played a leading role in identifying park strengths and weaknesses, envisioning ways in which the park could support their community, and choosing specific amenities and design elements that were formally drawn into plans. This year, the process will continue with three different parks: Camilla Williams Park, Camp Grove Park, and Cedar Brook Park. The department will continue to work alongside community partners and residents to implement and support last year’s designs.
All neighborhood park projects are part of a plan that resulted from the 2021 Neighborhood Park Evaluation. The evaluation included data about parks’ usage, meaning, and potential for development, with much of the information coming directly from residents living in areas around the parks and attending park and community events. As Danville Parks and Recreation implements the plan, they are working with local partners to build a widespread network of Park Ambassadors and Neighborhood Park Groups that will continue to make a difference in their communities through park activities. Danville Parks and Recreation is excited about what the future holds for the Danville community in the way of parks and recreational amenities. Those wishing to join the Park Ambassador program or assist in park planning efforts can contact Dr. Stephanie Lovely at stephanie.lovely@danvilleva.gov. Danville Parks and Recreation also continues to offer programming and events for all ages to those living in and around Danville. For all information on available programming and how to receive the Play Danville VA magazine via mail or email,