2025 Winter/Spring Recreation Programs Now Available

There is something for every age and skill level in Albemarle County Parks and Recreation's 2025 Winter/Spring Catalog is now available. It includes fitness options, like yoga, sports, dance programs (including West Coast Swing) and more! We even offer Tai Chi for beginners and more! These offerings are a great way to explore new interests or develop a hobby.

Find fitness, fun and community in your own backyard! Join in on the County's many recreation classes or sports leagues, or visit one of our beautiful parks, trails, dog parks, mountain bike trails, or one of our many lakes and rivers!

Visit www.albemarle.org/parks to view the full catalog with details, fees, and registration information, or call434-296-5844. For registrants, please be respectful, considerate, and safe while participating in events and/or activities.

Winter Middle School Sports: Girls Volleyball

Middle school sports online registration for Girls Volleyball will open on Wednesday, January 8! The Price is $90, and practices will be after school from 4:10 to 5:45 pm. You can view dates and locations and register online here under the “Winter Sports/Volleyball” option.

FREE Christmas Tree Recycling Starts December 26

The Parks and Recreation Department will operate eight drop-off sites from December 26, 2024, through January 19, 2025. The hours are daily from 7 am until dark.

Christmas tree recycling sites:

• McIntire Recycling Center*–611McIntire Rd. Charlottesville, VA 22902
• Claudius Crozet Park–1075 Claudius Crozet Park, Crozet, VA 22932
• Greenwood Community Center–865 Greenwood Rd. Crozet, VA 22932
• Chris Greene Lake Park–4460 Chris Greene Lake Rd. Charlottesville, VA22911
• Darden Towe Park–1445 Darden Towe Park, Charlottesville, VA 22911
• Scottsville Community Center–250 Page St. Scottsville, VA 24590
• Walnut Creek Park–4250 Walnut Creek Park North Garden, VA 22959
• Simpson Park- 2410 Simpson Ln. Esmont, VA 22937

*The recycling location on McIntire Road may be congested. Please consider Darden Towe Park as an alternate location, especially for large loads.

Please remove all decorations, lights, stands, and nails before dropping off trees. And remember, the sites are only accepting discarded Christmas trees, please do not bring yard waste or wreaths.

The recycled trees will be chipped into mulch and the mulch will be available for FREE starting Monday, January 20, 2025, at Darden Towe Park and Claudius Crozet Park.

The County's Christmas Tree Recycling Program has been helping residents discard trees and reduce the impact on our landfills since 1988. The program collects approximately 2,300 Christmas trees each year and turns them into mulch.

New at Darden Towe Park: Telephone of the Wind

Last month, Albemarle County Parks and Recreation, in partnership with Hospice of the Piedmont (HOP), worked to install the Telephone of the Wind in Darden Towe Park, a unique and peaceful space for community members to process grief and connect with lost loved ones.

Inspired by a Japanese concept, this disconnected phone allows individuals to speak freely, imagining their words carried away by the wind. Located along the Free Bridge Lane Promenade, the phone offers a quiet sanctuary for reflection and healing.

The Telephone of the Wind provides a personal space for anyone navigating loss or seeking solace. The installation is open to the community at no cost.

Find it along the Free Bridge Lane Promenade and learn for more information, visit hopva.org/wind.

Rivanna River Resiliency Project and Darden Towe Park

Albemarle County Parks and Recreation (ACPR) is a partner of the Rivanna Conservation Alliance’s (RCA) Rivanna River Forest Health and Resilience Project. This grant-funded project was initiated and organized by the Rivanna Conservation Alliance and supports strategically addressing the challenge of better controlling non-native invasive plant species, which dramatically impact our forests and plant communities.

ACPR continues to work to remove non-native invasive species along the Rivanna River corridor. Volunteers and contractors have aided some of this work. Last month at Darden Towe Park to support the Rivanna River Forest Health and Resilience Project, ACPR and over 30 volunteers, including Supervisor Mike Pruitt of the Scottsville District, helped remove invasive vines and shrubs, and contractors removed more than 30 large invasive trees (Tree-of-Heaven, Callery “Bradford” Pear, and Mimosa) Volunteers also replanted into those areas over 50 native tree seedlings, with hundreds more expected to be planted in the spring.

Later this winter, contract work will focus on removing invasive vines and shrubs from specific areas in Darden Towe Park. Trails and parking lots will remain open during this work. Want to volunteer to support this project or learn more? Fill out this Interest Form and to read more related information, visit rivannariver.org/foresthealth.

In Case You Missed it: Biscuit Run Park is Now Open

The first phase of Biscuit Run Park is officially open, and if you haven't already, we invite you to come experience all it has to offer. Located on the east side of the park off Rt. 20, just south of Avon Street at 2020 Scottsville Road, the first phase includes:

• 75 vehicle parking spaces 🚗
• Restroom facilities 🚻
• Over 8 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and exploring 🌲

This park was made possible through our collaboration with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Albemarle County holds a 99-year lease for this 1200-acre property, ensuring it will remain a community treasure for generations.

Biscuit Run Park is the first of its kind in Albemarle’s development area. With 80% of the park remaining forested and protected natural heritage resources, it’s the perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. The park will be open daily from 7 am until dark. To learn more about the planning and development of the park and what's in store for the future, visit our website.