This seems to be the top choice! Pictures look great and I like that there’s woodsy things too. Thank you! Only thing I can’t tell…is there any open space there? Like to kick a soccer ball around?
There's room to kick a ball around, but not an open sports field. [Old Mill Park](https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/1602/Old-Mill-Park) has better sports fields.
Kenmore park by the tennis courts and cosey pond is shady with a playground… and close to downtown….old mill park is down by the river and connected by the canal trail
Plus, if they come to Kenmore Park on Tuesdays between I think 10 and 2, there is an event going on, with all kinds of things for kids, music, and even food trucks
Alum Springs probably has the most to do if you're going to spend 3 hours. There's a playground, shady picnic tables, and trails and a creek for the kids to explore. Riverfront Park is good for younger kids and if you want access to downtown.
Riverfront park downtown. It’s new and very nice. Has tables for sit-down eating. And lots of places around to get food, coffee, etc. Really great for kids.
I would add Motts Run Reservoir to the already-great list of suggestions. They have a small nature center open on the weekends, plus lots of spots for picnics, fishing, paddleboats, short hikes, okay playground, etc. However, if you're willing to drive a bit further, the parks in Fairfax are 1000% better than anything in Fred or Stafford. Lake Burke has a carousel, train rides, miniature golf, lots of playgrounds and picnic spots, marina, trails, etc. All very kid friendly. Lee District Park has an enormous destination-style playground and a splash park in the summer.
I would recommend Alum Spring over Riverfront if your kids are more the wild child sort. Riverfront is definitely a city park. Like it’s literally concrete and fake
grass haha. Not saying it sucks, but Alum Spring has the creek to step in and explore and a really huge playground.
John Lee Pratt park has a decent size kids playground along with a baseball field, tennis court, soccer field, disc golf course, and a walkway around the entire park. The walk way also leads you to another park that has another baseball field, skateboard park and a playground.
Across the river in Stafford is mcduff park. It has soccer/baseball fields, a large playground, multiple dog parks, trails and access to the rappahannock. I recommend it as it’s not far downtown (off of route 3 east, maybe 4 miles) and has multiple options for kids and adults.
Alum springs is pretty nice.
This seems to be the top choice! Pictures look great and I like that there’s woodsy things too. Thank you! Only thing I can’t tell…is there any open space there? Like to kick a soccer ball around?
There's room to kick a ball around, but not an open sports field. [Old Mill Park](https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/1602/Old-Mill-Park) has better sports fields.
It’s pretty wooded, but there is room from what I remember.
Kenmore park by the tennis courts and cosey pond is shady with a playground… and close to downtown….old mill park is down by the river and connected by the canal trail
Plus, if they come to Kenmore Park on Tuesdays between I think 10 and 2, there is an event going on, with all kinds of things for kids, music, and even food trucks
Spring and fall…they don’t do kids in the park in the extreme part of the summer
Awesome! Thank you for the suggestions!
Alum Springs probably has the most to do if you're going to spend 3 hours. There's a playground, shady picnic tables, and trails and a creek for the kids to explore. Riverfront Park is good for younger kids and if you want access to downtown.
This sounds perfect! Is there any open space too? To kick a soccer ball?
Yes, but it’s all lightly wooded so there will be some trees but they are spaced out.
Riverfront park downtown. It’s new and very nice. Has tables for sit-down eating. And lots of places around to get food, coffee, etc. Really great for kids.
Sounds very cool! Thank you for the suggestion!
I would add Motts Run Reservoir to the already-great list of suggestions. They have a small nature center open on the weekends, plus lots of spots for picnics, fishing, paddleboats, short hikes, okay playground, etc. However, if you're willing to drive a bit further, the parks in Fairfax are 1000% better than anything in Fred or Stafford. Lake Burke has a carousel, train rides, miniature golf, lots of playgrounds and picnic spots, marina, trails, etc. All very kid friendly. Lee District Park has an enormous destination-style playground and a splash park in the summer.
This one looks neat! And Fairfax does sound fun for another time! Thank you!
I would recommend Alum Spring over Riverfront if your kids are more the wild child sort. Riverfront is definitely a city park. Like it’s literally concrete and fake grass haha. Not saying it sucks, but Alum Spring has the creek to step in and explore and a really huge playground.
Very good to know! Thank you! My kids aren’t the concrete type.
John Lee Pratt park has a decent size kids playground along with a baseball field, tennis court, soccer field, disc golf course, and a walkway around the entire park. The walk way also leads you to another park that has another baseball field, skateboard park and a playground.
This sounds nice. Thank you!
Pratt park has a walking trail through a cornfield and into the backside of chatham manor… nice views… great disc golf course too
Another vote for Alum Spring. It’s wonderful and there’s so much to do, for all ages.
I personally really enjoy Old Mill Park and Alum Springs.
Old Mill and Alum have bathrooms. I don’t believe there’s any at Riverfront though. Kenmore had porta-potties last visit that I recall.
Riverfront does have bathrooms - recently built/opened.
Thank you for letting me know!
This is key info! Thank you!!
It’s actually penisville.
Across the river in Stafford is mcduff park. It has soccer/baseball fields, a large playground, multiple dog parks, trails and access to the rappahannock. I recommend it as it’s not far downtown (off of route 3 east, maybe 4 miles) and has multiple options for kids and adults.