The celebrated lakes at Three Lakes Park came from borrow pits used in the construction of Interstate 64. Beginning this summer, they’ll be centerpieces to an improved and modernized park.
With one of the icy lakes as a backdrop, Henrico County officials today celebrated the start of site work for the park’s first major upgrades since the 1990s.
“Three Lakes historically attracts many families and individuals alike,” Fairfield District Supervisor Roscoe D. Cooper III said. “Because of its many features, we’re appreciative that Henrico voters approved the 2016 bond referendum to update and expand some of the educational opportunities here.”
The $4.6 million project, which is supported with general obligation bonds and other funds, will deliver a new entrance walkway with seating and lighting as well as an outdoor classroom and other educational spaces. Visitors will be able to explore the life cycle of a frog in a series of interpretative play areas.
Improvements to the trail network are already complete, with one mile of newly paved trail. A new restroom building by the playground is expected to open late this year.
The project also will bring renovations to the Nature Center’s main atrium, which will feature initially a dozen Virginia native wildlife exhibits plus an interactive sandbox with a projector that responds to movement.
A second phase of improvements is under design and will include renovations to the rest of the Nature Center. The building is currently closed, as it has largely been since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
A portion of Wilkinson Road south of the entrance to Three Lakes Park is expected to reopen in March, weather permitting, according to the Department of Public Works. The road has been closed at Upham Road since September 2023 for the construction of a new bridge and other improvements.
For more information, visit https://henrico.gov/rec/places/three-lakes/ and https://henrico.gov/projects/three-lakes-park-2/.
