city parks in Beckley (price, trains, cars)

[annie10754]

We're going to be traveling through West Virginia on Saturday, and I'm looking for a nice city park (not too far from I-77) where we can have a picnic lunch and let the 9-year-old work off some energy.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[Hersh]

Not really a city park but Tamarak is a nice place to stop right off the Turnpike just north of the Harper Road exit.

[annie10754]

Does Tamarak have playground equipment?

[CurseOfWilmore]

Check out New River Park, they have playground facilities and is also the location of the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia and the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. There are places to ride bikes as well. It is located on 513 Ewart Ave. its pretty nice, haven't been there in a few years though.

Here is a link:

City of Beckley

[annie10754]

New River Park sounds like a good place to stop for a break. Thanks for the suggestion and link!

[mattec]

NRP is the main city park. there are a couple of ways to get there, but I would suggest Ewart Ave. because the other main entrance at Paint St. charges an entry fee (really stupid). Also, it will look like you're going through a asphalt plant coming from Robert C. Byrd Drive on Ewart because you are, but once you get through that, the park is pretty nice. Not Central Park nice, but nice enough for Beckley.

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

Two other parks with playground equipment in Beckley include Freedom Park, which has the local skate park attached, but has some nice playground equipment. Its located directly off of Eisenhower Drive.

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

The other park is Thornhill Courts, which is the smallest and is located just outside of Downtown on Second Street.

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

Also, Tamarack does not have playground equipment. Its a touristy place that sells overpriced crafty things like glassware, paintings, ceramics, and foodstuffs. They also have a toy section, but its old fashioned toys like marbles and wooden cars and trains.

Its interesting if you've never been there, but again, a lot of the stuff there is overpriced.

[annie10754]

We stopped at New River Park and had a nice picnic lunch. Granddaughter played on the equipment and we had a nice break from driving. Thanks for the suggestion!