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Recreation in Huntington, West Virginia

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Huntington is home to dozens of parks located in the neighborhoods of Huntington. An amusement park is also adjacent to the city.

Amusement parks

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Camden Park

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Huntington is also home to Camden Park, the state's only remaining amusement park. Marshall Cox is the current owner/manager of the property. It features numerous children's attractions and The Big Dipper, its primary roller-coaster. Camden Park is located just west of the Westmoreland neighborhood in Wayne County along US 60.

Public parks

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Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District

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Camp Mad Anthony Wayne

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Camp Mad Anthony Wayne is located on Spring Valley Drive. Named for "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who was a frontier army general, it contains vast open grounds, swings and sliding boards, hiking trails, a disc golf course, numerous picnic tables, an open campfire circle, and a lodge. The facility sleeps 28 and contains a bathroom and shower facilities. It is host to two large wood-fired fireplaces.

Part of the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[1] The eight historic buildings are the camp lodge building (1931), four nearly identical gable-roofed, stone, rustic vernacular cottages dated to 1942; a gable-roofed, stone, rustic vernacular caretaker's house and two associated outbuildings, dated to 1944. The camp lodge building is a gable-roofed, brick, rustic vernacular building.

Harris Riverfront Park

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Harris Riverfront Park in 2012.

After years of sluggish usage from the general public of Huntington and the Tri-State area, Harris Riverfront Park has seen a renewed interest in recent years from local citizens, city government, media and local businesses.[2] The public land continues to host a number of concert and music events,[3][4] recently re-introduced a free open-air movie showing,[5] and has been included in citywide construction of additional surveillance cameras which will provide free public-access wireless internet connections.[6]

The park is situated between the city flood wall and the Ohio River, and is noted for its scenic riverview and grassy recreational area.

Harveytown Park

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Harveytown Park is one of the newest parks in the Harveytown district. It features currently six picnic tables, one of which is handicap accessible, an electrical outlet, a grill, water fountain, and restrooms.

Construction on Phase I of the new park began on October 28, 2003. The financing and coordination was a joint effort between the city of Huntington, HUD CDBG funds, and the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District. During Phase I, the initial park site was cleared and prepared, underground utilities were installed, a main entrance and parking lot was constructed, and the picnic shelter was installed. The shelter was unique in that it was both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Possible expansion plans include a skateboard facility, bicycle trails and tennis courts.[7]

McClelland Park

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McClelland Park is located along the Ohio River near St. Mary's Hospital. It is named after James L. McClelland, the former Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District director. It features two tennis courts, a basketball court, a water fountain, a children's playground, two scenic swings, a grill, and two picnic areas (one sheltered, one on mulch). It was formerly named 27th Street Park, named for the street it lies on.[8]

Memorial Arch

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The Memorial Arch in 2012

Memorial Park is located at 1301 Memorial Boulevard. It contains the Memorial Arch, a section of the PATH walking trail, a playground, and a picnic shelter. It formerly included a large swimming pool that featured two slides but was abandoned and demolished in 2006.[9] The two-mile walking trail merges with the one-mile trail around the main Ritter Park at 8th Street & North Blvd.

Miller School Park

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Miller School Park is located at 620 12th Avenue. It contains a Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting memorial, three porch swings, a walking path, a little library, and Big Jim Field, named after Jim St. Claire. The park opened in 2011 following the closing and destruction of the Miller Elementary School, named after George Frederick Miller Jr., which operated there since 1915.[10][11]

  • 7th street view of Miller School Park.
    7th street view of Miller School Park.
  • Miller School Park entrance.
    Miller School Park entrance.
  • 12th avenue view of Miller School Park.
    12th avenue view of Miller School Park.
  • Miller School Park sign.
    Miller School Park sign.
All Miller School Park images were taken August 14th, 2024.

Ritter Park

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The fountain at the entrance to Ritter Park.
Path to the Ritter Park Rose Garden in 2024.

Ritter Park is located in Huntington, West Virginia. It is a public park maintained by the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District. It was created in 1913 by Rufus Switzer, a city council member of West Virginia.[12][13] It consists of numerous lengthy walking trails along Four Pole Creek, restroom facilities, picnic tables, shelter with grills and electrical outlets, a children's playground, amphitheater that can be used for small concerts and plays, and an award-winning Rose Garden. The park was officially opened in September 1913. Architect Gus Wofford was hired by the city to design the park and its amenities.[14] His works continued till the 1930s and includes bridges that cross streams, tennis courts, greenhouse, and picnic facilities.[12] It is located in the Ritter Park Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.[1][15]

Ritter Park is one of the 2012 Great Places[16] of America listed by American Planning Association (APA). Every year APA selects great places having true sense of place, culture and historic interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow.[17] The list of “APA Great Places” is a very useful and informative source for local residents and tourists who are looking for an enjoyable public place. Ritter Park is one of the busiest places in Huntington, but still maintaining its peaceful and serene environment.

The award-winning Rose Garden and the playground are the most popular amenities of the Ritter Park that attracts tourists.[18] The internationally known Rose Garden, including the "Room with a View" is popular for weddings and special occasions. The Rose Garden has more than 3,500 rose plants. The garden bordered by stone walls is designed to place benches for the events. In addition to the weddings, the annual Rose Show and the Summer Nature Programs are presented here.[19] Each year the roses are tested and provided by the American Rose Society.[12]

The playground in the park has been rated sixth best nationally by “Child Magazine.”[20] The structures in the playground are designed to look naturalistic and include climbing boulders, dinosaur sand pit, swings, and slides.[20] The playground is situated on the site of the former Lake Chaposcane [21] The park also provides a non-motorized roadway for bicyclists, skaters, strollers, walkers, wheelchairs and joggers.[20] The amphitheater, accommodates approximately 1,500 people, is popular for events, shows, musical concerts, summer programs, dramas, reunions, and weddings.[20]

It is also the location of the Ritter Park Tennis Facility.[22] This facility is open to the public and has eleven outdoor tennis courts and four indoor courts. The Ritter Park Tennis Center is host to many tournaments including: Huntington Area Qualifier, Ohio Valley Boys 16 & Under Championships, Ohio Valley Boys 12 & Under Indoor Championships and WV Open Indoor Championships. The facility also offers a wide range of instructional programs for the beginner to advanced player. Ritter park is also where the great Jeff Morrsion played his junior tennis before becoming a professional tennis player.

Other parks in the GHPRD

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The St. Clouds Commons Playground in 2023.
  • Altizer Park[23]
  • April Dawn Park
  • Huntington's PetSafe Dog Park
  • Ritter Park's Rose Garden
  • Rotary Park
  • RPA Park
  • St. Cloud Commons
  • Veteran's Memorial Park
  • Westmoreland Park

Public Stadiums

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Baseball/Softball

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St. Cloud Commons

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St. Cloud Commons is a stadium in Huntington. It is primarily used for baseball and was the home of Huntington Cubs. The ballpark has a capacity of 3,100 people and opened in the early 20th century. The Huntington Cubs first season was 1990. The field was upgraded to a point for the Huntington Cubs but the lack of commitment from the city of Huntington and the local park board pushed the Chicago Cubs organization to move the team elsewhere. The field is now used by the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District for their recreational adult softball league. The field was and still is notable for being affected by flooding. There is a drainage basin that runs along the southern border of the entire St. Cloud Commons park area.

Other baseball/Softball stadiums

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  • Altizer Park[23]
  • Hite Saunders Softball Field[24]
  • Huntington Little League[24]
    • David Glick Field
    • Jerry Straub Stadium
  • Kennedy Center Field[25]
  • Prindle Field[24]
  • Rotary Park[24]
  • Riverside Softball Field[24]
  • Vinson Little League[26]
    • Vinson Major League Baseball Field
    • Vinson Minor League Baseball Field
    • Vinson Minor League Softball Field

Basketball

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Football

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Lacrosse

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Soccer

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Tennis/Pickleball

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Walking/Biking trails

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Paul Ambrose Trail for Health

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Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH) the 18-mile network of recreational trails, has been in development since 2007.[29][30][31]

Other walking/biking trails

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Tarbett Hardiman, Jean. "Riverfront Area in Need of Repair", Huntington Herald-Dispatch, October 20, 2007.
  3. ^ Spencer, Chris. "Thousands Jam Harris Riverfront Park for Music, Fireworks", Huntington News Network, July 3, 2005.
  4. ^ Seaton, Tony. "X-Fest Xcitement", Huntington News Network, September 2, 2007.
  5. ^ Huntington Herald-Dispatch. Starlight Cinema Returns to Harris Riverfront Park, July 17, 2008.
  6. ^ Chambers, Bryan. "Downtown cameras also offer broader wireless web access", Huntington Herald-Dispatch, July 20, 2008.
  7. ^ Smith, Sheanna. "Park district to unveil improvement plan." Herald-Dispatch. 29 April 2004. 26 September 2006 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2013-05-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link).
  8. ^ "Visit Huntington - McClelland Park". Visit Huntington. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  9. ^ Herald-Dispatch, The (4 August 2014). "Lost Huntington: The Olympic Pool". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  10. ^ Casto, James (2018-06-18). "Lost Huntington: Miller School". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  11. ^ "Miller Elementary School playground, Huntington,WVa, 1951". Marshal Digital Scholar. 1951-01-01.
  12. ^ a b c "Great Places in America: Public Spaces". American Planning Association. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  13. ^ "Ritter Park Historic District".
  14. ^ "Great Places in America: Public Spaces". Americal Planning Association (APA). Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  15. ^ "National Historic Places Application" (PDF).
  16. ^ "Great Places". American Planning Association. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  17. ^ "Great Places in America: Public Spaces". American Planning Association.
  18. ^ "Great Places in America: Public Spaces". American Planning Association.
  19. ^ "Touting Huntington: Rittter Park". City of Huntington. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  20. ^ a b c d "Touring Huntington: Ritter Park". City of Huntington. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  21. ^ CastoHerald-Dispatch.com, James E. (29 December 2013). "Lost Huntington: The Lake at Ritter Park". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  22. ^ "TENNIS". ghprd.org. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  23. ^ a b c d "Altizer Park". Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Huntington Little League Locations". Huntington Little League. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c "YMCA Kennedy Center". YMCA Kennedy Center. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  26. ^ "Vinson Little League Locations". Vinson Little League. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "A.D. Lewis Community Center". A.D. Lewis Community Center. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c d "Marshall Rec Center - Outdoor Facilities". Marshall University. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  29. ^ Media, FRED PACE HD (11 March 2018). "City looking to make connections as PATH grows". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  30. ^ "PATH - Paul Ambrose Trail for Health". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  31. ^ McCoy, John (10 April 2014). "Huntington trail feeds fitness trend". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
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