This park is made to host events. Established in 1851, it has the distinction of being the city's oldest park. It is a wide open park with a lot of green space. It is located across from the Altria Theater, near the Virginia Commonwealth campus. There is metered street parking and a parking garage available within a reasonable walking distance to and from the park. The park spans about 7 and a half acres and It is named after James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States. The park features some nice paved paths that are pretty wide and popular among joggers/walkers and people walking their dogs. You will find a nice cast iron fountain here at this park and some tables with umbrellas to sit at. Interestingly enough, the park has free wifi, making it a popular spot for VCU student to hang out at. The park has hosted many rallies and events. There was a bronze statue of Williams Carter Wickham, a plantation owner, Confederate general and industrialist, who unapologetically accrued power and wealth through the exploitation of enslaved people. In the wake of the George Floyd protest, protesters tore the statue down. The park was well maintained and also well lit at night, even though it closes at sunset. I did still see people hanging out their late into the evening anyway though. This park is more of a hangout spot than anything. Walker/joggers can also find some value in this park. The park also has a lot to offer a person hosting an event. Some events hosted here include the Iron Blossom Music Festival, Mobile Soul Sunday, Justice for Tyre Nichols protest, Virginia Prison Justice Rally, and grocery/meal give aways. This is definitely a chill spot and worth checking out if you are looking to just kick back and relax. Fun Fact: The park was home to the Richmond's first baseball games. read more

I knew I wanted to get my steps in and had to visit some park within the city. I figured this would be the right one since it's right in the smackdab of downtown Richmond off W. Franklin St. There's some nice views of the buildings, a tiny playground, and a fountain in the middle. And... that's about it in terms of sight seeing. Were you expecting Central Park!? Please. THis aint' the Big Apple! read more

Monroe Park - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Nice little park right across from Altria theatre and close to VCU Convenient for students gathering and having them enjoy beautiful weather! Some benches and tables with chairs available too! read more

Monroe Park - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Sometimes Monroe can be super busy when the weather is warm. A lot of people like to put up hammocks, lay down picnic blankets, and set up volley ball nets! Everyone is super nice here and is pretty safe at night time as well. It's great to have a little walk with your friends or take your pets too! Coffee shop in the middle of the park isn't too bad either it's not the best or worst imo! read more

Monroe Park is alive with students during this time. There is something so charming about this park during this time of year. People have picnic blankets set up everywhere. There are groups meeting for games, clubs, art, and more. The energy is incredible and brings me so much joy. I'll usually bike through this park on my way to the Fan. There are some tables near the fountain and benches spread throughout the park. It has a bit of an NYC vibe to it. When the leaves start changing it's another beautiful spot to be at. Monroe Park is great for meeting up with friends, picniking, or reading a book. There are pathways throughout this small part and it's surrounded by stunning architecture like the Altria Theater. I'd highly recommend visiting this park. read more

Great place to do a variety of outdoor activities but also get some yoga / meditation in!

A good solid city park. Not huge, but just enough space to give you a little respite from the city. Extra points for having the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and the Altria Theater right there. Really beautiful buildings! read more

I was quite sad when Monroe Park was closed for construction. There's not much to it, just a square city block of grass, some trees, and a fountain in front of the Altria Theatre, but it's somewhere to hang out and relax amid the hustle of downtown and VCU. It is popular with transient Richmond residents, who were always perfectly pleasant and happy to mind their own business, and also became a gathering place during the initial Pokémon Go craze, as there are many pokestops and interesting characters to catch. read more

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Maybe the parklife that Philly has to offer between the likes of Rittenhouse Square, Clark Park, and Eakin's Oval has to offer spoils me. Bur while Monroe Park was certainly huge, had an OK fountain, and provided some random street art Easter eggs (go yarn bombers!); the bulk of it seemed like a disorganized mess that made it more of a place to walk through in favor of stopping to revel in those eclectic moments that most parks have to offer. Maybe I just caught it on an off weekend. But the inhabitants that I saw within were beyond sketchy (and again I say this while witnessing the best of the worst of Philly's parklife), and the overall feel of the park didn't provide many welcome benches or grass spaces where I would sit and partake in ample people and scenery watching. And for me that's mandatory Parklife 101! But despite that I did enjoy the tiny fountain, yarn bombing pole, and some of the colorful regulars that existed within. read more

It's nice to see a green space like this in Richmond. I hope more are being planned. It reminds me of the parks in Savannah, GA but they have lots more. There is a coffee shop and police station in the center building. There tables and chairs set up near the center and I also saw an outdoor ping pong table near the cathedral entrance. read more

Monroe Park - Fountain - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

A nice bit of nature in the middle of relatively dense urban area. Unfortunately a gathering place for many homeless people, as is a great deal of the area surrounding the VCU campus, which distracts from the park's charm. read more

Monroe Park - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This park is so underrated! It is a beautiful space in the middle of a few very busy streets, making it a quick little getaway or a good alternative to walking the busy sidewalks of Franklin and Belvedere streets. A wonderful place to watch people or nature, have a meal, get work done, get some exercise, or relax. It's close to apartments, campus, restaurants, shops, churches, and not far from the river! It's never too crowded and always feels safe. read more

Every day just before noon, the drunken homeless congregate around the fountain in the center of the park. Someone brings a boom box, there are clearly a lot of brown-bagged bottles, and the dance party begins. Walking by, you'll catch a faint scent of a cigar-rolled joint, which may be difficult to distinguish over the heavy musk of urine and B.O. However: the sheer epic awesomeness of daily Hobo Park Dance Party cannot be denied. Do not walk through this park at night, you will get murdered. FACT. read more

You speed walk through Monroe Park on your way to the library. The pile of emails that you missed is terrifying. There does not seem to be a single spot in the park that isn't occupied by college students on picnic blankets and beach towels. You pass by a group playing spike ball and listening to Frank Ocean on a boxy, rainbow speaker. It takes you back to high school but just for a moment before you're out of range and both the memory and the music fade out. It's funny to you how on warm days Monroe Park becomes a tangible environment. You've walked through on rainy evenings and felt that there was not another person in the world who went to your college, but on days like today, you feel like a part of a fractal. A whole ecosystem of different groups spiraling in all directions. It is one of the few examples of college meeting your expectations from when you were younger; disparate groups tied together by their aspirations. You're almost through the park when you hear your name called. A couple of your friends have blankets sprawled across prime park real estate. a. If you choose to wave and pass by continue to Cabell Library (https://www.yelp.com/biz/james-branch-cabell-library-richmond) b. If you stop to talk go to Plan 9 Records (https://www.yelp.com/biz/plan-9-records-richmond) read more

This park is not what one would expect. It has a great fountain and one can find a statue of Wickham (of Valentine/Wickham House fame) here as well. The view of the Richmond Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is amazing. One can also view other great buildings from this park such as the Richmond Mosque, Johnson Hall which is one of Richmond's first high rise residential buildings and The Prestwould which is a high rise luxury condo built in the 1920s. Monroe Park was originally a drill field during the Civil War and was also used as a camp hospital as well. There are probably more homeless here than any other park in Richmond but it is also a great spot to watch cute college kids play in the snow or sun. The VCU Police keep a very vigilant watch on this park and I do not feel that it is dangerous at all. I am sure there are cameras all over the place as well. Take a frisbee or a blanket and watch humanity, walk, skateboard, hackey sack and stumble by...... read more

I walked through Monroe Park countless times during my VCU days. During the day time a lot of students are usually walking through the park for class. There's a fountain in the park with a lot of trees. The scenery is good for picture taking on a sunny day. Monroe Park is the final gathering spot after the Monument 10k.After dark,its best to be caution walking into the park (not well lit). read more

Wish I had majored in engineering during my time at VCU so I could have devised a time machine to whisk me back to the day when only a stupid asshole would have dared walk through this park after sunset. read more

This "park" is in desperate need of an update. A little love would go a long way. Some rather sketchy inhabitants who just litter everywhere and take away from the aesthetically pleasing aspects of the park. Really upsetting! read more