Bryan Park (Richmond, Virginia)

{{Short description|Historic park and garden in Richmond, Virginia, United States}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Joseph Bryan Park | nrhp_type = hd | nocat = yes | designated_other1 = Virginia Landmarks Register | designated_other1_date = September 11, 2002<ref name=register>{{cite web |title=Virginia Landmarks Register |url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm |url-status=dead |publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources |access-date=March 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053819/http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm |archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> | designated_other1_number = 127-5677 | designated_other1_num_position = bottom | image = Bryan park.jpg | caption = The gateway to Joseph Bryan Park | location = 4308 Hermitage Rd., Richmond, Virginia | coordinates = {{coord|37|35|37|N|77|28|26|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Virginia#USA | built = 1800 | architect = | architecture = Bungalow/Craftsman, American Rustic | added = November 21, 2002 | area = {{convert|262|acre}} | refnum = 02001369 <ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2009a}}</ref> }}

'''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.<ref name=RTDCentennial>{{cite news |last=Prestidge |first=Holly |title=Bryan Park celebrates centennial |url=http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/sep/26/park26-ar-525504/ |url-status=dead |newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=September 26, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927193906/http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/sep/26/park26-ar-525504/ |archive-date=September 27, 2010}}</ref> It contains a network of hiking/biking trails and is open daily without charge.

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.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-06-15 |title=Enjoy Veggie Fest 2018 |url=https://www.wtvr.com/2018/06/15/enjoy-veggie-fest-2018 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=WTVR}}</ref>

In mid-2024, the City of Richmond broke ground on the city's portion of the Fall Line Trail, an approximately 43-mile<ref name="mag">{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Gary |title=The Fall Line Trail |url=https://richmondmagazine.com/life-style/leisure/the-fall-line-trail/ |work=Richmond Magazine |date=May 24, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Richmond">{{cite web |title=Richmond's Segment of 43-mile Fall Line Trail Breaks Ground, Connecting Central Virginia |url=https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/richmonds-segment-of-43-mile-fall-line-trail-breaks-ground-connecting-central-virginia/ |publisher=WRIC.com |date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Azalea Garden== 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Walk the Bryan Park Azalea Gardens |url=https://www.theoutbound.com/virginia/fitness/walk-the-bryan-park-azalea-gardens |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=www.theoutbound.com}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Joseph Bryan Park}} * {{Official website|https://www.rva.gov/parks-recreation}} * [https://www.friendsofbryanpark.org/ Friends of Bryan Park]

Bryan Park Azalea Garden Category:Virginia municipal and county parks Category:Parks in Richmond, Virginia Category:National Park Service rustic in Virginia Category:National Register of Historic Places in Richmond, Virginia Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Category:Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia