Meade Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Meade Park is a popular recreational area located in Charlottesville, Virginia.


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Summary

There are several reasons why people may want to visit this park, such as hiking, picnicking, playing sports, and walking their dogs. The park has many amenities, including basketball and tennis courts, a playground, a pool, and a walking loop.

Visitors to Meade Park can enjoy several points of interest, including the beautiful scenery, the creek that runs through the park, and the walking trail that loops around the park. The park is particularly known for its vibrant colors during the fall months when the leaves change colors and provide a beautiful backdrop for hiking and other outdoor activities.

Interesting facts about Meade Park include that it was named after a former mayor of Charlottesville, J. Samuel Meade, and that it was once used as a landfill before being transformed into a public park. Additionally, the park is situated near a historical district that includes several historic homes and buildings.

The best time of year to visit Meade Park is during the spring, summer, and fall months when the weather is mild, and outdoor activities are at their peak. However, the park is open year-round and offers winter activities such as ice skating and sledding. Overall, Meade Park is a beautiful and popular destination that offers visitors a range of activities and amenities to enjoy.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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