I am not going to bury the lede today: there aren’t any azaleas at Azalea Park. Many of you will likely say, “DUH.” But I hauled my family out here one gorgeous weekday enticed by the name and the bursts of cotton candy color on azalea bushes all over town. Alas, there wasn’t a single azalea in Azalea Park.
That said, Azalea Park is still worth the visit for another surprising feature.
The playgound here is huge – with two different sets for different ages. The ground covering is mulch and well maintained. But this is also right out in the direct sunlight with no reprieve.
Azalea Park also has a baseball diamond, dog park, community garden, and a basketball court. Many families with toddlers brought push or ride-on toys for their kids to enjoy on the short paved path that went along the front of the playground. They all looked incredibly happy.
But what really stood out about Azalea Park was the access to the water. The Rivanna Trail runs along the back of Azalea Park. And while not marked very clearly, it follows Moore’s Creek, eventually crossing it.
It was here we found so many fun little places to walk right up to the Creek, and if we had our water shoes and had been more prepared in general (NOTE for future self: Azalea Park is NO on azaleas and YES on water play) we could have splashed in.
As it was, this was a sweet visit for our family and a great way to get outside.
For more on Azalea Park:
Raising Charlottesville is a website dedicated to highlighting fun & local activities for families living in the Charlottesville, VA area.