Bryan Park (Richmond, Virginia)

Joseph Bryan Park, also known as Bryan Park, is a public park in the city of Richmond, Virginia. The park memorializes Joseph Bryan (1845–1908), the founder and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper. The land was given to the city in 1910 by Bryan's widow, Belle Stewart Bryan, and her family.[3] It contains a network of hiking/biking trails and is open daily without charge.

Joseph Bryan Park
The gateway to Joseph Bryan Park
Bryan Park (Richmond, Virginia) is located in Virginia
Bryan Park (Richmond, Virginia)
Bryan Park (Richmond, Virginia) is located in the United States
Bryan Park (Richmond, Virginia)
Location4308 Hermitage Rd., Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates37°35′37″N 77°28′26″W / 37.59361°N 77.47389°W / 37.59361; -77.47389
Area262 acres (106 ha)
Built1800
Architectural styleBungalow/Craftsman, American Rustic
NRHP reference No.02001369 [1]
VLR No.127-5677
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 21, 2002
Designated VLRSeptember 11, 2002[2]

The park, which sits next to the Bryan Park Interchange, where I-95, I-64, and I-195 intersect, hosted the Richmond Vegetarian Festival annually from 2003 through 2018.[4]

In mid-2024, the City of Richmond broke ground on the city's portion of the Fall Line Trail, an approximately 43-mile[5] multi-use trail currently (2024) under development — from a northern terminus in Ashland, Virginia, to a southern terminus in Petersburg, Virginia. The thirteen-mile segment extends from Bryan Park, which will become a key trailhead, to the Chesterfield County border to the South.[6]

Azalea Garden

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The Joseph Bryan Park Azalea Garden (17 acres) is a botanical garden specializing in azaleas, located within Joseph Bryan Park.

The garden proper was begun in 1952 by Mr. Robert E. Harvey, a former Recreation and Parks Superintendent. Over some 15 years, Mr. Harvey and volunteers planted about 450,000 azalea plants (of 50 varieties) in more than 75 beds. They also constructed a small pond with a fountain. Peak season is April 1 to May 15.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Prestidge, Holly (September 26, 2010). "Bryan Park celebrates centennial". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  4. ^ "Enjoy Veggie Fest 2018". WTVR. June 15, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  5. ^ Robertson, Gary (May 24, 2021). "The Fall Line Trail". Richmond Magazine.
  6. ^ "Richmond's Segment of 43-mile Fall Line Trail Breaks Ground, Connecting Central Virginia". WRIC.com. August 28, 2024.
  7. ^ "Walk the Bryan Park Azalea Gardens". www.theoutbound.com. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
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