Byrd Park, Richmond

Just southeast of Carytown, you'll find the 300-acre Byrd Park. This beautiful wide-open space features everything from walking trails to tennis courts. There's an amphitheater for live shows and lots of green space to stretch your legs and reconnect with nature.

One of the most prominent features of Byrd Park is the Virginia War Memorial Carillon. The tower is the Commonwealth's official memorial to the 3,700 men and women from the state who died in World War I. The monument was dedicated in 1932. It is a 240-foot tall Georgian-revival tower complete with 53 bronze bells. The carillonneur plays the instrument with a pedal keyboard located just below the bell chamber.

Along the river at Byrd Park, you'll find remains of the first canal system in the United States. Pump House Park contains trails and several historic sites related to the canal system, including two stone locks for canal boats and the Byrd Park Pump House. The pump house is an enormous and distinctive Victorian Gothic-style building was built in 1882. Check the James River Park website for more details about the canal and the pump house.