By Steve Cook :
There’s an old joke where the girl tells the guy that he must have picked a great spot for a picnic. Proudly, he asks, “How do you know?” She replies, “Because 10,000 ants can’t be wrong.”
That’s somewhat been my attitude towards picnics. Why eat with the bugs when you have a perfectly fine indoor dining room? However, I’m trying to become more outdoorsy and in doing so, I’ve discovered the joys of sitting on a blanket, sipping on my favorite beverage, and eating tuna fish sandwiches. Whatever your tastes may be, we have some cool, local spots to enjoy a picnic. Here are three of our favorites.
Best Spots for Sports Lovers – Pole Green Park (8996 Pole Green Park Lane)
If it involves a ball, chances are you can play the game at Pole Green Park. With four lighted diamonds, five lighted multipurpose fields, four pickleball courts, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a skate park, a cross-country course, and even a dog park, there’s not much you can’t play here. And with all that, they even have picnic shelters. For more information and to reserve one of the fields, visit HanoverCounty.gov.
Best Spots for History Lovers – Cold Harbor Battlefield/Park Garthright House (6005 Cold Harbor Road)
This park is one of 13 units scattered throughout the Richmond Metro area that tell the story of the American Civil War and the people it impacted. Battlefield Park, which surrounds the historically significant Garthright House, features trenches and rifle pits with interpretive signage along the paved historic walking trail.
Crump Park (3400 Mountain Road)
Have a ham sandwich with a side of history at General Sheppard Crump Memorial Park. The park is located on what was once ancient Native American hunting grounds. The Sheppard family took possession of 400 acres by means of a grant to the family in 1713. Mosby Sheppard is credited with constructing the farmhouse at Meadow Farm in 1810. That house still stands and today serves as a museum, which tells the stories of Henrico County’s history.
The park is named in honor of Mosby Sheppard’s great-grandson, General Sheppard Crump, and offers all you could want for a fun outing…everything from fishing and hiking to playground equipment, a play area, and, of course, picnic shelters.
Best Spot for Nature Lovers – Three Lakes Park and Nature Center (400 Sausiluta Drive)
With a nature trail, an open play area, picnic shelters, and the lakes, the park provides a haven for someone who wants to commune with nature, including those picnic-loving ants, while enjoying their picnic. But the 6,500 square foot Nature Center here offers more than a chance to simply commune. The center, which is scheduled to reopen in August after undergoing extensive renovations, features exhibits designed to provide hands-on experiences. The 50,000-gallon aquarium gives you a “fish-eye” view of the underwater world.
Credit: James River Association
Best Spot for River Lovers – The James River Park System (JamesRiverPark.org)
Who’d ever think of leaving the suburbs and heading into the city for a picnic? Anyone who has ever discovered Richmond’s fantastic river park system. That’s who. The James River Park System is a 600- acre urban oasis that features rocks, rapids, meadows, forests, and an abundance of plant and animal life. Don’t expect to find concession stands or food trucks. The park system is too rustic for that. But bring your basket and a blanket and spread out alongside the historic James River. You can even picnic on the rocks in the river in some areas of the park. Keep in mind, we are not talking about one location. The park system spreads out from Belle Isle and Texas Beach closer to Downtown Richmond, all the way out to Huguenot Flatwater, which is my favorite.
Located at one of the quieter sections, a little more than a mile above Pony Pasture Rapids and adjacent to the Huguenot Bridge, this 37-acre parcel includes river access steps, a boat ramp for canoes, kayaks, and inner tubes, a series of footpaths, even portable potties, and a changing room. Take your picnic, add water, and you have the perfect picnic spot.