Central Park (shopping complex) facts for kids
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| Location | Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States |
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| Coordinates | 38°18′18.7″N 77°30′33.7″W / 38.305194°N 77.509361°W |
| Opening date | 1995 |
| Owner | Silver Companies |
| No. of stores and services | 166 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 7+ |
Central Park is a very large shopping area in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It has 166 different businesses, like big stores, restaurants, and smaller local shops. You can find it close to where Interstate 95 and State Route 3 meet.
This huge complex has about 2,200,000 square feet of space for stores. The company that built it, Silver Companies, calls Central Park "The East Coast's Largest Power Retail Center." Back in 2004, it was even ranked as the biggest unenclosed mall on the East Coast. It was also the second largest mall on the East Coast and the seventh largest in the whole United States!
Many well-known stores are part of Central Park. Some of these include Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Kohl's, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, Hobby Lobby, and PetSmart. Over the years, some stores have closed, like Toys R Us and Chuck E. Cheese.
Central Park isn't just for shopping. It also has hotels like Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn. In 2020, the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball team moved to a new stadium built right next to the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center. This conference center opened in 2006 and is a big place for events.
One of the most fun spots for kids is Central Park Funland! It's a family entertainment park with both indoor and outdoor activities. Outside, you can enjoy go-karts, batting cages, and mini-golf. Inside, there's laser tag, mini bowling, a rollercoaster simulator, and tons of arcade games. Funland is also a great place for birthday parties and group events.
How Central Park Started
Central Park was created by a company called Silver Companies. The main road through the complex, Carl D. Silver Parkway, is even named after the company's founder.
Before Central Park was built, this area had a Sheraton Hotel and a golf course. Construction on the shopping complex began in 1995. It has continued to grow and expand since then.
Today, Central Park covers about 310 acres. It's a major part of an even bigger project called Celebrate Virginia. This huge development is spread across Stafford County and Fredericksburg. It's known as "North America's Largest Retail Resort."
Right across Route 3 from Central Park, you'll find the Spotsylvania Towne Centre. This used to be an older mall that has been updated a lot.
Traffic and Growth
Because Central Park is so popular, it brings a lot of cars to the area. Sometimes, people who live nearby or are just passing through get frustrated by the traffic jams. This often happens on Route 3, especially near the Interstate 95 exit.
