Mills Road Park provides something special for all generations – from Wood’s Historic Grist Mill and wedding gazebo to Deep River Grinder’s home field and the home field of their baseball team – there’s something here for everyone at Mills Mills Road Park.
A paved hiking trail winds its way through this natural area. Ferns, shrubs, and sedges line its creek as it emerges from the bayhead swamp.
1. Picnic Shelter
This park features an upper picnic area with a spacious open shelter that is available to rent, making it the ideal venue for family reunions, company picnics, school outings, and other group functions. There is plenty of green space where additional tables and chairs can be set up if required – as well as nearby playground equipment such as swings and soccer goals for your child’s entertainment!
Discover what life was like during the late 1800s as you explore three Ohio & Erie Canal locks that remain. Take a stroll along either a towpath or canal bed, wade in Clear Creek, and enjoy picnicking! Admire Hartman No 2 Covered Bridge or one of several picnic areas scattered through the trees for even more exploration!
The Billy Gilbert Memorial Shelter in the upper picnic area is wheelchair accessible, featuring four grills (electricity only from April 15 through Oct. 31), restrooms with flush toilets and sinks, picnic tables that seat 80 people, as well as a dumpster nearby. There are three additional wheelchair-accessible shelters; Sunday’s Bartlett and Hausen-Knox shelters offer similar features, along with grills, electricity, and restrooms, and can be reserved at a daily cost of $45 each if not needed for interpretive purposes – these shelters may also be secured when not required for interpretive purposes;
2. Playground
This playground is a trendy spot that caters to kids of all ages. There are separate areas for younger and older children, as well as climbing walls, swings, and much more! Furthermore, the park boasts several sports fields suitable for baseball, softball, and other activities.
At the corner of Mill Road and Tysens Lane lies this district reserve featuring several playing fields, a large playground, and the New Albany Recreation Center featuring meeting rooms. All fields are lit, and bathrooms can be found onsite – an ideal way for families to spend an afternoon or day outside with their children!
Local park playgrounds typically range between 3,500 to 5,000 square feet in area and offer equipment that meets all aspects of child development from age two to twelve, including balance, climb, slide, and swing experiences, as well as discovery/nature play elements. Some playgrounds may even offer equipment specially tailored to assist kids with disabilities or sensory processing disorders.
Oakridge Park (Mill Road): This quarter-acre park, featuring plantings, paths, and benches, is home to an elegant Victorian gazebo that serves as its centerpiece. This space serves as an ideal gathering place for summer concerts and events held here.
Mill Neighborhood Playground (Mill Road and Weed Avenue): This new park, owned by Tuckahoe and programmed by Eastchester, features baseball/softball fields, full basketball courts, and an expansive playground area with climber swings and other fun play structures.
The Town of New Castle is currently renovating the Dugan Playground after work was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic but is now underway again. This project includes installing new play equipment, swings, and an accessible swing chair for handicapped patrons.
3. Dog Park
The dog park offers dogs the freedom to socialize safely off-leash within a fenced environment. With benches available for owners to relax while their pets play, mutt mitt dispensers for waste disposal, a drinking fountain (turned off in winter), and a drinking fountain for dogs to drink from owners/handlers are responsible for picking up after their pets and disposing of waste accordingly in provided waste containers; any aggressive behavior from either dogs or humans must be immediately addressed by taking immediate steps such as immediately removing them from the park; climbing is not permitted and climbing over fences is strictly forbidden – neither humans nor dogs/handlers are allowed on either side. Human food, smoking, or glass containers are strictly prohibited from entering our park; we welcome our furry visitors!
Burnt Mills Park on Burnt Mills Road in Bedminster’s Pluckemin section hosts an off-leash area that is open daily from sunrise to sunset, protected by 6-foot vinyl-clad chain-link fencing with secure double gates ensuring dogs remain under proper control when entering or exiting it. All visitors must adhere to leashing requirements when entering and leaving this off-leash zone.
The township dog park is a member-only facility. Annual membership for township residents costs $35, while non-residents pay $50 annually; residents can purchase membership cards online or in person from community centers, while visitors must sign a Dog Park Membership Agreement agreeing to all rules and regulations; dogs must be licensed and vaccinated before using the park; their owners must maintain verbal control at all times and remove them if their dog exhibits aggressive behavior; unsupervised children should not use it under any circumstance.
4. Ball Fields
There are multiple baseball and softball fields open to the public for organized league play or special events, including grass, turf, and concrete surfaces to suit different sports. Free instruction of various ages and skill levels during spring. Participants in organized leagues require a permit in order to use these facilities.
Bryant Park covers an area of 127 acres and contains four ballfields, a picnic pavilion, a playground, and two tennis courts, as well as an outdoor basketball court, a walking track, wooded trails, a riding area, and much more. Both playground and picnic pavilion provide ideal locations for children’s birthday parties or family reunions, while it’s 6/10 mile paved and illuminated walking track can give those seeking physical exercise incredible scenery to take in along their route.
Roger Keenholts Park serves as home for both the Guilderland Center Baseball (Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, and Travel), as well as Guilderland Girls Softball League Rec and Travel teams. Located on Hurst Road in Guilderland Center, the complex includes full-size baseball/softball fields as well as bathrooms, a concession stand, a press box, and bleachers for use on its football/soccer/multipurpose field.
This full-size baseball/softball field, located in Henry County’s Horsepasture neighborhood, provides children with an ideal way to learn the game of baseball/softball. This lighted facility can be found immediately behind Mt Olivet Ruritan Club for easy accessibility.
This lighted baseball field provides the ideal spot for enjoying baseball or softball games and is located conveniently in the Sanville community. This new field makes a welcome addition to this vibrant neighborhood.
5. Walking Trail
Our paved hiking trail allows visitors to walk and run while taking in beautiful wooded scenery and water views. Bicyclists and joggers are welcome on this path, while bikers should remain mindful of other users. A moderately complex trail snakes its way around shelter three and along the Waller Mill Reservoir shoreline, where benches provide restful stops. Meanwhile, Lookout Tower offers breathtaking aerial views of our reservoir, dock, and operations building.
The natural surface trail begins from Drake Mill Lane SW near Rocky River and features beautiful woodland views with plenty of plants and animals, including unique spots like an old bridge spanning Rocky River that provides unparalleled panoramic vantage points.
There is a selection of trails to enjoy here, such as the Hatchery Trail, Daffodil Meadow Trail, and Powderhorn Trail, which leads to an expansive field of ragweed – perfect for walking through during spring! Additionally, Zacharias Trail connects Heebner Park and Hollow Road directly with Evansburg State Park’s trail system on the west side.
Visit our park and participate in any of the many activities on offer! Please follow all rules and regulations listed here for an enjoyable experience for all visitors.
Visitors to Albemarle County are invited to engage in legal volunteer trail maintenance and land management activities with written authorization from Albemarle County staff. Unauthorized trail-building, illegal trail structures or features construction, or any unpermitted land use activity directly jeopardize the efforts of Albemarle County staff in working with private property owners in expanding public Greenways.
