Icon of deciduous tree next to park bench

OUR NATURE PARK

Bandy Field Nature Park (BFNP) is an 18-acre City Park in Richmond’s West End.

Bandy Field Nature Park at sunset with a gorgeous red sky

Though controlled and maintained by the City of Richmond, approximately 13 of the park’s 18 acres lie in Henrico County. A detailed map prepared by the City describing the property is available here.

BFNP became an official City Park in May 1999. The ordinance establishing the park specified that it “be maintained in its natural, undisturbed condition in perpetuity” by the City's Department of Parks and Recreation.”

Later the City of Richmond ensured that the park would forever remain a nature park by granting a conservation easement in order to

  • “protect the natural environment and habitats of the Property”

  • “prevent commercial, residential, institutional and industrial development”

  • “preserve open space for future generations”.

BFNP has a small parking lot off Three Chopt Road near the intersection with Hanover Avenue. There are also several walking and biking entrances to the park via Three Chopt Road, Chandler Drive, and a trail entrance at the end of Bandy Road. 

BFNP has five distinct areas.

Aerial view of Bandy Field Nature Park with trees and fields visible

Starting from the north end of the park and moving south the areas are:

  1. A grassy meadow area along Three Chopt Road

  2. A small wetland or swale area which extends from Three Chopt Road to the western edge of the meadow area

  3. A pine-hardwood succession forest 

  4. Another large grassy meadow area (which also includes our new Habitat Garden)

  5. A forested buffer area along the southern and western boundary of the park

There is a 0.7 mile loop trail around BFNP which is popular with walkers, runners, and cross county school teams. 

Aerial view of Bandy Field Nature Park with loop trail visible