The National Recreation and Park Association has named Taylor Farm Park the recipient of its 2025 Innovation in Park Design Award, marking the first time a Henrico County park has received a national award.
The annual NRPA Innovation Award recognizes park and recreation agencies that have improved their communities through innovative practices in park design, health and well-being, environmental resilience and equity. The association has more than 60,000 member agencies nationwide. Taylor Farm Park was chosen from 225 applicants.
Henrico Recreation & Parks Director John T. Zannino noted that the recognition is a “monumental moment” for the agency.
“It’s our first national award,” he said. “We all knew locally that Taylor Farm Park was something special. We wanted to see how it measured up among other parks across the country.”
Zannino said embracing a mentality of conservation and stewardship was part of the design process. Of the 99 acres of the site, about 18 acres are developed. The park’s master plan was created with extensive community input.
“We used nature as the theme of this development,” he said. “The play equipment, the play stream, the preservation of most of the site, the native plantings and all of the trees reflect input received from Henrico residents.”
Taylor Farm Park cost $26 million and was funded through Henrico’s voter-approved 2016 bond referendum. When it opened in July 2024, 70,000 visitors came to the park in its first week. The park has seen more than 400,000 visitors since its opening. Unique features of Taylor Farm Park include:
- Custom-built playgrounds with treehouses, rope net climbers, slides and ziplines;
- An accessible spray park plus a mile-long trail for all ages and abilities;
- Mini waterfalls, shallow pools and an interactive play stream with stepping stones;
- “All-wheel” offerings including a 17,000-square-foot skate park, a 12,000-square-foot pump track/flow bowl and a BMX dirt course;
- An event lawn for live music and outdoor movies; and
- A memorial for veterans and first responders.
Varina District Supervisor Tyrone E. Nelson, whose district is home to the park, noted the national recognition is a result of the work of staff and community involvement.
“It’s a humbling experience, not just for our staff and our team, but to know just how the community has embraced it,” Nelson said. “We want to make Henrico a place where people want to live, work and play, and the play part of it is important. We want to make it the best. This park will be something for us to brag on for generations to come.”
Due to the strong popularity and feedback from visitors, the park is adding more parking, including dedicated bus, daycare, and food truck spaces; additional shade and seating in the playground; and an enhanced filtration system for the play stream.
The National Recreation and Park Association’s formal recognition of Taylor Farm Park will occur in September at the NRPA Annual Conference.
