Chesterfield debuts free park with splash pad and heron slide
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The splash pad at The Park. Image: Courtesy of Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County's newest public park, The Park at River City Sportsplex, opens this week.
Why it matters: It has a splash pad, bringing the splash pad total in the region's most populous county to two.
State of play: The Park is a "park within a park" and part of the county's effort to make its 115-acre athletic facility, River City Sportsplex, more usable outside of sporting events, per the county.
- It features a 2,000-square-foot spray park, double zipline, rope course, fitness equipment, trails, an accessible climbing structure and a giant blue heron slide that's part of the park's James River ecosystem theme.
- The Park also offers picnic areas, shade structures, a game space with an electronics charging zone for tweens and teens, and ample parking.
- It's all part of the $17 million sports complex enhancements that Chesterfield voters approved in a 2022 referendum.
Zoom in: The Park's grand opening is Thursday from 4-7pm and timed to coincide with International Day of Play.
- For the opening celebration, there will be free Kona Ice, a bubble machine, scavenger hunt, food and drink vendors, and more.
What we're watching: Chesterfield will announce the winning name for the giant heron atop its slide (we hope it's Mama Blue or Sharon).
If you go: The Park at River City Sportsplex is at 13030 Genito Road. Admission is always free.