Recreation in Huntington, West Virginia facts for kids

Huntington is a city with many fun places to visit, especially its parks! You'll find dozens of parks spread out in different neighborhoods, offering lots of ways to play and relax. There's even an amusement park right next to the city for thrilling rides.

Amusement Parks

Camden Park: West Virginia's Only Amusement Park

Get ready for some excitement at Camden Park! This is West Virginia's only amusement park, and it's located just outside Huntington. It has many rides for younger kids and a big roller coaster called The Big Dipper for those who love a thrill. Marshall Cox is the person who currently owns and manages this fun park. You can find Camden Park west of the Westmoreland neighborhood, along US 60.

Public Parks in Huntington

Many of Huntington's parks are managed by the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District. They work hard to keep these green spaces enjoyable for everyone.

Camp Mad Anthony Wayne: A Historic Outdoor Spot

Camp Mad Anthony Wayne is a cool place on Spring Valley Drive. It's named after a famous army general from long ago, "Mad" Anthony Wayne. This camp has huge open fields, swings, slides, and trails perfect for hiking. There's even a disc golf course! You can also find picnic tables, a campfire circle, and a lodge that can sleep up to 28 people, complete with bathrooms and showers. The lodge has two large fireplaces, making it cozy.

Some parts of the park are very old and important. Eight historic buildings, including the main lodge from 1931 and several stone cottages from the 1940s, were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Harris Riverfront Park: Fun by the Ohio River

Harris Riverfront Park in 2012, showing its beautiful autumn colors.

Harris Riverfront Park is a beautiful park located right by the Ohio River, between the city's flood wall and the water. It offers amazing views of the river and a big grassy area for playing. In recent years, more and more people have been visiting this park. It often hosts concerts and music events. The park has also started showing free outdoor movies again, which is a lot of fun! Plus, new cameras have been added, which also provide free public Wi-Fi.

Harveytown Park: A Newer Community Space

Harveytown Park is one of Huntington's newer parks, located in the Harveytown area. It has six picnic tables, including one that's easy for people with disabilities to use. You'll also find an electrical outlet, a grill, a water fountain, and restrooms.

Work on the first part of this park began in October 2003. The city of Huntington, along with other groups, helped pay for and plan the park. During this first phase, the area was cleared, underground pipes were put in, a main entrance and parking lot were built, and the picnic shelter was set up. There are ideas for the future to add a skateboard area, bike trails, and tennis courts!

McClelland Park: Play by St. Mary's Hospital

McClelland Park is located along the Ohio River, close to St. Mary's Hospital. It's named after James L. McClelland, who used to be in charge of the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District. This park has two tennis courts, a basketball court, a water fountain, and a playground for kids. There are also two scenic swings, a grill, and two picnic areas. It used to be called 27th Street Park because of the street it's on.

Memorial Park: Home to a Grand Arch

The impressive Memorial Arch in 2012.

Memorial Park is found at 1301 Memorial Boulevard. Its most famous feature is the Memorial Arch. The park also has a section of the PATH walking trail, a playground, and a picnic shelter. There used to be a large swimming pool with two slides, but it was removed in 2006. A two-mile walking trail here connects with a one-mile trail around Ritter Park.

Miller School Park: A Place for Remembrance

Miller School Park is located at 620 12th Avenue. It features a special memorial, three porch swings, a walking path, and a little library. It also has Big Jim Field, named after Jim St. Claire. The park opened in 2011 after the Miller Elementary School, which had been there since 1915, closed and was taken down.

Ritter Park: A "Great Place of America"

The beautiful fountain at the entrance to Ritter Park.

A lovely path leading to the Ritter Park Rose Garden in 2024.

Ritter Park is a very popular public park in Huntington, West Virginia, cared for by the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District. It was first created in 1913. The park has many long walking trails along Four Pole Creek, restrooms, picnic tables, and shelters with grills. There's also a children's playground and an amphitheater for small concerts and plays.

A special part of Ritter Park is its award-winning Rose Garden. The park was designed by architect Gus Wofford, who added bridges, tennis courts, and picnic areas. In 1990, the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2012, the American Planning Association (APA) named Ritter Park one of the "Great Places of America." The APA chooses places that have a strong sense of history, culture, and community. Ritter Park is one of the busiest spots in Huntington, but it still feels peaceful.

The Rose Garden and the playground are big attractions. The internationally known Rose Garden has over 3,500 rose plants and is a popular spot for weddings. It also hosts an annual Rose Show and nature programs. The playground has been ranked as one of the best nationally by "Child Magazine." It has natural-looking structures like climbing boulders, a dinosaur sand pit, swings, and slides.

The park also has paths for bikes, skates, strollers, walkers, and joggers. The amphitheater can hold about 1,500 people and is used for many events, from concerts to dramas.

Ritter Park is also home to the Ritter Park Tennis Facility, which has eleven outdoor and four indoor tennis courts. It hosts many tournaments and offers lessons for all skill levels.

Other Parks Managed by GHPRD

Here are some other great parks managed by the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District:

• Altizer Park
• 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 and Sports Fields

Huntington has many places to play sports!

Baseball and Softball Fields

St. Cloud Commons: A Historic Ballpark

St. Cloud Commons is a large stadium in Huntington, mostly used for baseball and softball. It used to be the home of the Huntington Cubs baseball team, starting in 1990. The ballpark can hold 3,100 people and opened a long time ago in the early 1900s. Even though the Cubs team moved, the field is still used by the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District for adult softball leagues. The field is known for sometimes being affected by flooding because of a drainage area nearby.

Other Baseball and Softball Fields

• Altizer Park
• Hite Saunders Softball Field
• Huntington Little League
  • David Glick Field
  • Jerry Straub Stadium (has a public batting cage)
• Kennedy Center Field
• Prindle Field
• Rotary Park
• Riverside Softball Field
• Vinson Little League
  • Vinson Major League Baseball Field
  • Vinson Minor League Baseball Field
  • Vinson Minor League Softball Field

Basketball Courts

• Altizer Park
• Douglass Street Park, at A.D. Lewis Community Center
• Rotary Park
• RPA Park
• St. Cloud Commons
• McClelland Park
• Westmoreland Park

Football Fields

• Beverly Hills Youth Football Field, at Rotary Park
• Bob Sang Stadium, at Huntington High School
• D.C. Express Youth Football Field, at A.D. Lewis Community Center
• Marshall University Multipurpose Field, at Marshall University Rec Center
• Vinson Youth Football Field, Vinson Memorial Stadium

Lacrosse Fields

• Bob Sang Stadium, at Huntington High School
• Marshall University Multipurpose Field, at Marshall University Rec Center
• YMCA Kennedy Center

Soccer Fields

• Altizer Park
• Marshall University Multipurpose Field, at Marshall University Rec Center
• Scotland Yard, at Huntington High School
• Vinson Memorial Stadium
• YMCA Kennedy Center

Tennis and Pickleball Courts

• Brian David Fox Tennis Center, at Marshall University Rec Center
• McClelland Park
• Ritter Park Activity Center, at Ritter Park
• Scotland Courts, at Huntington High School
• Westmoreland Park

Walking and Biking Trails

Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH)

The Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (also known as PATH) is a huge network of trails, about 18 miles long, perfect for walking and biking. It has been growing and developing since 2007.

Other Trails for Walking and Biking

• Camp Mad Anthony Wayne
• Huntington Museum of Art
• Rotary Park
• Ritter Park

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See also

• Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District
• Huntington, West Virginia