Westwood Park for me over the years has been the backup park for Riverside because of how much…read moresmaller it is, the lack of connectivity to surrounding businesses and recreation, and the smaller amount of recreation opportunities, but over the last month it's become my absolute go-to!
As far as the basics go, plenty of parking that connects right to the park, restrooms are not at all well labeled but they're in the building next to the concession stand at the baseball field and they're always decently clean and stocked, and there are serval small picnic tables as well as a picnic shelter. The shelter can be rented out for events though I haven't seen anyone rent the space in a while. The park can also be a little off-putting sometimes because there are always some people who will go there and stay in their cars to eat or meet up with someone or whatever, but no one has ever bothered me no matter when I go so it's as safe as anywhere else in the area in my opinion.
Westwood has two small baseball fields, a couple of very small playground setups, and one good grassy field area to play in, but that's about all they're specifically offering for kids. If you're like me, and the number of people flocking to Riverside to play in the river, ride bikes, and generally meander the trail during the warm weather is throwing you off you're routine I 100% recommend changing it up. Seriously, if you just want to run or walk without fighting a crowd of people this is the second-best option in Mt. Airy. It even has the added benefit of a lot of the trail going straight through a wooded area and you get to enjoy the tall pine trees and fresh air which is unbeatable. The park is very pet and family-friendly from what I've seen, but anytime I've come across someone walking their dog or playing with their kids, it's always really easy to make corrections on the trail and keep my pace, so even busy days are manageable.
The park also has 1.5 miles of walking trail, with some of it being gravel, so running can be tricky in some parts, but otherwise, it's great for beginners and people who want an easy and accessible loop trail to get their steps in. The upper trail system also has little workout stations all through the trails. They're older and it's stuff like a push-up station, pull-up bar, leg dip area, and sit-up bench, but honestly, they stay clean and they work for what they are. I've seen people utilize them in a lot of different ways like using the sit-up bench to practice bench jumping, so there's lots of room for creativity at these stations. Anyone looking to bring their gym routine outside a little more should absolutely consider Westwood trails as an option. I've personally also really enjoyed the challenge of running the big hill that leads down to the fishing pond and the circle track that goes around it. There's just enough elevation change to keep the track interesting, as well as a cute wooden bridge you get to cross! Watch out though because there are a handful of Geese that stay around the pond and they'll give you a reason to run if you get too close to them.
The pond has a small dock, and I haven't personally fished it, but I see people over there pretty frequently so fishing must be at least decent. Most people like the fishing pond because it has parking just a few feet from the dock and it's generally accessible. Another popular section of the park is the 9 hole disc golf course where I see someone practicing or a group of people playing the course at least once a week. The most unused and interesting part of the park in my opinion is the at least 5 mile stretch of mountain biking trail. I jumped on the trail off of the walking trail around the pond not knowing it was for mountain biking, and a guy came through and told me more about it. It's apparently a fully wooded and exciting trail and is fantastic for beginners.
When it comes to Westwood, what I love most is that it's peaceful, people are usually really respectful, no matter you're fitness level there's something there for you, and it's super open-minded when it comes to recreation. I bring my yoga mat at least once a week, I love to bring my binoculars to bird watch, and I've seen everything from a hacky sack circle to someone practicing a killer rhythmic gymnastics routine. It doesn't have a skate park, basketball or tennis court, soccer field, kayaking, or a huge playground, but that's kind of the point. So ultimately, if you want a less crowded place to get your steps in, somewhere to start or change up your fitness routine, enjoy nature, or just have a cool space for your weird outdoor rec/hobby then consider switching up to this park and showing it some love!
