Friday, October 10 is National Walk to a Park Day. Celebrate the occasion by exploring a neighborhood park near you!
Neighborhood parks are especially noteworthy for the immediate benefits they bring to their surrounding area. Typically on the smaller side, these parks are generally under 10 acres and specifically designed to serve residents within a short walking distance (typically a mile or less). They can offer open fields and shade trees, and may include park amenities such as playgrounds, walking paths, athletic facilities, or shelters.
On National Walk to a Park Day, it’s helpful to consider a park’s walkability and proximity to residents. According to ParkServe data, 65% of Roanoke residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Let’s explore a few of these neighborhood parks in Roanoke!
Mason Mill Park
Located in Northeast Roanoke, Mason Mill Park offers a calm natural park setting along Tinker Creek. Visitors can enjoy fishing from the ADA pier with a great view of the dam, or exploring the Tinker Creek Greenway. Named for the historic water wheel and mill, this park has a charming bit of history to enjoy as well!
According to ParkServe data, approximately 822 residents live within a 10-minute walk of Mason Mill Park.
Brown-Robertson Park
Located off 10th Street in Northwest Roanoke, Brown-Robertson Park is accessible via neighborhood street sidewalks and the Lick Run Greenway, which runs through the park. The park has beautiful open space, lush shade trees, and lots of benches for seating. A picnic shelter is located near the basketball court and playground, perfect for an afternoon playing outside! Be sure to visit the interpretive signs in the park to discover more about its history and ecology, and don’t forget to check out the mural by Katrina Legans along the Lick Run Greenway!
According to ParkServe data, approximately 1,859 residents live within a 10-minute walk of Brown-Robertson Park.
Mountain View Park
Don’t be distracted by the Historic Fishburn Mansion, the grounds of Mountain View Park are spectacular in their own right! Nearly four acres of grounds surround the mansion, including a decorative lawn and spacious garden. Visitors enjoy the beautiful landscaping at Mountain View Park, including swaths of daffodils and rows of peonies that bloom each spring. The southside of the park is also home to an expansive garden with inviting paths to stroll and explore.
According to ParkServe data, approximately 1,989 residents live within a 10-minute walk of Mountain View Park.
Golden Park
At just shy of 4 acres, Golden Park is great place to enjoy a day outside! Located in Southeast Roanoke, Golden Park is situated between the Roanoke River Greenway trailhead at Bennington and the section at Underhill Avenue. The park offers athletic facilities including basketball courts and a large multipurpose field. There is also a roomy park shelter with electricity, grills, restrooms, and playground.
According to ParkServe data, approximately 609 residents live within a 10-minute walk of Golden Park.
Other neighborhood parks in the City of Roanoke include Bowman Park, Fern Park, Garden City Recreation Center and Park, Garden City Park, Grandin Court Park and Recreation Center, Horton Park Loudon Park, Melrose Park, Perry Park, Piedmont Park, Preston Park, Raleigh Court Park, Ridgewood Park, Staunton Park, Sunrise Park, Valley Avenue Park, Villa Heights Park, and West End Park.
