Pantops Neighborhood Park

Project Description

Pantops Neighborhood Park

Located at the intersection of numerous cultural and natural systems, the Pantops Neighborhood Park design presented a unique opportunity to transform a discarded open space into a meaningful and valuable recreational amenity for Albemarle County.

Historically rich, this 8-acre property was originally part of a large farm located in the rural piedmont not far from Monticello.  Free Bridge Lane, that forms the park’s western boundary, was a colonial-era wagon road that connected Charlottesville to the Towns of Gordonsville and Orange that lay to the north.  And prior to railroads, canal navigation improvements along the adjacent Rivanna River helped move people and commercial goods to and from Richmond by boat.

Structured by a system of gateways and trails that provide access from surrounding neighborhoods, the design invites exploration and play while revealing the cultural and ecological richness of the site. The trail system is anchored by two distinctive features. The circular Mayapple Loop emulates an existing bowl-shaped landform and frames a vernal pool ecosystem. A wide sinuous path, that is imagined as a small farm road, forms a distinctive east-west organizational axis between the bird blind and Free Bridge Lane where a new River Overlook and existing greenway trail are located. Positioned carefully at the edge of an existing wet meadow, the bird blind surveils shallow water seeps that attract a wide variety of nesting and migratory songbirds. Primary park trails are ADA accessible – featuring broad curves that gently navigate the site’s considerable topography without the need for ramps or handrails. Notable park features include river overlooks with seating, nature-play garden rooms, and quiet meditation areas under sycamore trees along the small side stream.  A fenced dog park occupies the dry, open woodland and cleared utility corridor at the center of the park.  The riparian forest and wet meadow ecosystems are enhanced with a pallete of hardy native plantings.  Invasive shrub and vine species will be removed.