Brown/Carr Cemetery

Belvedere Development

Lewis & Clark Exploratory Center

Miller Park

Tobacco Heritage Trail
MILLER PARK, LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
Master Plan and Cultural Landscape History

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Rivanna Archaeology served as landscape historian for a Master Plan redesign of Miller Park, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Responsibilities included drafting the landscape history of the park and identifying significant historical resources for interpretation and potential preservation.

The history of the park reflects changing concepts of the use public space. Created in 1862, the park served as an agricultural fairground before becoming the site of the Lynchburg Zoological Park and Aquarium. The decades following the zoo's closure in 1921 saw the construction of formal gardens and the development of sporting and recreational facilities including tennis courts, a baseball diamond and bathing pool. During desegregation city officials closed Miller Park Pool rather than allow African-Americans access.

The final Master Plan incorporated the findings of Rivanna Archaeology and stressed the protection of historic resources and interpretation of park history as an integral design consideration.