Forest Hill Park, Richmond, VA

This morning we joined the Around Town Hounds for a walk at the urban Forest Hill Park in Richmond.  There are two entrances to the park--one at West Kent Avenue and 42nd Street and one at Forest Hill Avenue and 41st Street.

When the Friends of Forest Hill Park began researching the park’s history many years ago, they found a photograph from around 1910 that showed a man standing by the trolley tracks at the Forest Hill Amusement Park entrance on Forest Hill Avenue.
According to neighborhood legend, some time in the 1940s, during World War II, the iron letters were taken down as scrap iron “for the war effort” and the stucco columns were changed to brick. In 2006, the sign was replaced.

During the Works Progress Administration, unemployed craftsmen and stone masons were hired to pave the paths in the park with cobblestones and bricks. The hounds took advantage of the great stone path.

The walk through the 105 acre park is hilly--it is called Forest Hills after all!

There is a lake at the bottom of the hill that evidently used to hold quite an elaborate swimming area according to this old post card!

We had a large group of hounds crossing the bridge. This bridge enabled people to walk all the way around the lake.

There was a waterfall right under this bridge. It sounded pretty and could have looked pretty--but there was lots of trash in it so we didn't take a picture. What is wrong with people littering this beautiful park?

PG enjoyed strolling through the rocky park and listening to the water going over the stones!

Wish you were here,
Joyce
Sammy & PG

Windsor Castle Park, Smithfield, VA

After some nasty wintery, cold days, we finally got a beautiful spring day and decided to go to Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield.

We parked right across the street from Smithfield Station and walked across the Station Bridge to get into the park.

The Station Bridge provides a link to the outer loop trails from South Church Street and the Smithfield Station Parking lot. The bridge crosses Little Creek. You can have a piece of the park named for you, your family or in honor of or in memory of a loved one--like the Station Bridge named after Smithfield Station.

We were surprised when we got into the park and saw that they are planting grapevines now--5 plus acres! The Smithfield Winery and Vineyard will be a boutique winery.  The retail shop and tasting room for Smithfield Winery will be located in downtown Smithfield. The winery will be open to the public, and will also be available for private events.

We walked the long loop around the park. One of my favorite parts is this stretch next to a cotton field. It reminds me of the Yellow Brick Road.

Loved the shadow dog in this photo!

After the long walk around almost 4 miles, Sammy was yawning so it was time to head for home!

Wish you were here,
Joyce
Sammy & PG