Our success story.

Recently chosen for the Best New Facility Award from the Virginia Recreation and Parks Service, Hopewell's Crystal Lake Park is worth its weight in gold. The park has successfully addressed the need for an outdoors-recreational facility in the City of Hopewell. In the 1950's and 1960's, Crystal Lake was the place where everyone went for fun, a place where citizens had family reunions, picnics and parties. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time there. The children splashed and swam, while teenagers went to hang out.

However, all that changed when the property was sold, the lake was closed and the passage of time took its toll on the abandoned property. Overgrowth and the remains of brick bathhouses and pavilions lay crumbled on the ground, while ruins of the old pier and diving board stood in murky waters of a once white sand beach swimming hole. In the fall of 1995, The City of Hopewell purchased Crystal Lake, which is adjacent to Mathis Park. Mathis Park is a city youth sports complex containing four ball fields, basketball courts, restrooms, concessions, play equipment and two parking lots.

The purchase of Crystal Lake presented a unique opportunity to expand the city's parks and open space plan while making a strong commitment toward improving the quality of life for the citizens of Hopewell. The city council acquired the site to turn it into something the community would enjoy.

In order for the council to realize their vision, they appointed the Crystal Lake Development Committee. The committee consisted of two council members, two recreation commission members and two planning commission members, the director of recreation and parks and the director of development. In August 1996, interviews and bids were solicited from consultants for professional services to develop the park. On April 30, 1997, plans were finally unveiled to revitalize Crystal Lake into a passive recreational site with picnic shelters, restrooms, a nature trail, playground, parking facility and a fishing pond--a true community park.

The actual placement of Crystal Lake Park, a passive recreational site, next to a major youth sports complex, is innovative in nature because these two recreational areas complement each other and provide for many types of uses. Crystal Lake held its grand opening in April 2000. Since this time, Crystal Lake Park, particularly the picnic shelter, has been overwhelmingly successful. Civic organizations, churches, families and many different groups use the facility for weddings, cookouts, picnics, family reunions and similar functions.

Crystal Lake Park is a beautiful outdoor facility, intended to meet the needs of the Hopewell community by providing an outdoor space to reserve a picnic shelter and enjoy leisure activities. The facility is free to city residents, however, a deposit is required. Crystal Lake Park has become the pride of the community.