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Facilities, Parks and Trails

Parks

Winchester is home to over 270 acres of park land. Jim Barnett Park features over 170 acres of beautiful green space and amenities and over 100 acres of park land is located within Winchester's neighborhoods.

Jim Barnett Park Map  Neighborhood Parks Map

Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve button  Green Circle Trail

Jim Barnett Park Amenities:

Playgrounds  |  Pavilions  |  Picnic Areas with Grills  |  Indoor & Outdoor Pools  |  Outdoor Basketball Courts  |  Tennis Courts  |  Sports Fields  |  Gymnasium  |  Recreation Center  |  Fitness Trail  |  Disc Golf Course  |  Dog Park  |  Arboretum  |  Fishing Lake  |   Horseshoe Courts  |  BMX Track  |  Memorials

Indoor Pool

Jim Barnett Park's indoor pool, located in Jim Barnett Park (1001 East Cork Street Winchester, VA 22601), has six 25-meter lanes and is open year-round.

Swim classes are offered for participants of all ages and abilities. A variety of lap swim times are designated in the indoor pool schedule for different age groups as well as general swim opportunities.

*Temperature of the pool is approximately 83 degrees

Indoor Pool Schedule     

Outdoor Pool

The outdoor pool, located in Jim Barnett Park (1001 East Cork Street Winchester, VA 22601), is open daily during the summer.

This facility has eight 50-meter lanes in the main pool and six 25-yard lanes in the diving well (depth varies from 3.5 feet to 11.5 feet). The main pool also has a 30-foot tall tube slide and a one-meter spring board. The zero depth entry baby pool includes a water feature (maximum depth 1.5 feet).

Outdoor Pool Schedule     

Gymnasium

The Rec Center gymnasium offers one full court plus one half court with multiple basketball nets in various locations and bleachers. The hardwood court is marked for basketball and pickleball.

Open Gym Schedule     

Fitness Room

The fitness room is open during the building's hours of operation to participants ages 14+. Ages 14 - 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18+. Spectators are not permitted. Proper attire must be worn at all times. See the Fitness Room Policy for more details.

Racquetball Court

The court can be used for racquetball or wallyball.  Court reservations can be made seven calendar days in advance for no more than two hours at a time beginning at 7:30 am each day. The court is open and available for use during the building's hours of operation.

Dog Park

The Winchester Dog Park, located in Jim Barnett Park, is open free to the public and offers two fenced sections (small dog area and large dog area) complete with play equipment, running water (April-October), picnic tables and more. 

Trails

  • Kiwanis Par Course - Jim Barnett Park features a one-mile fitness trail consisting of 18-exercise stations of varying levels of performance including stretching, aerobic and muscle toning stations.
  • Winchester Green Circle Trail - The Green Circle Trail provides pedestrians with a recreational path for running, walking or cycling and connects areas of historic, recreational, educational and natural interest such as the Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve. 
  • Sensory Trail - Arboretum

Christianson Familyland

The Christianson Familyland area in Jim Barnett Park offers several family fun amenities including:

  • Adventure playground
  • Children’s Dream Accessible Playground (for children with special needs)
  • Picnic areas
  • Public restrooms (closed during the winter)

Disc Golf Course

The 18-hole disc golf course is located in Jim Barnett Park.  The course is available to play for free and discs are available, if needed, at the Rec Center.

BMX Track

The BMX Track in Jim Barnett Park is the longest track within an eight-hour radius of Winchester at 1,307 feet. It has a long front straight and is a great track for training and learning. Approximately 30 local races, one state race and four multi-point races are held each year. Track usage guidelines.

Horseshoe Courts

Jim Barnett Park has several courts available for playing horseshoe. Free. Bring your own equipment.

Billiards Table

Use the billiards table (ages 12+) in the War Memorial Building free with paid daily facility admission or $2.00 for use of the billiards table only (individaul or group). Pool sticks available or bring your own.

Facility Rentals

Many park facilities are available to rent including:

Click here for capacity limits and rates.

Memorials

Located in Jim Barnett Park are three memorials:

Wilkins Lake

Located in near Christianson Familyland, Wilkins Lake is a public fishing lake in Jim Barnett Park. Each year, the park offers a Family Day Fishing Rodeo in June and the lake is stocked full of plenty of fish to catch.

The lake was made possible thanks to generous donations by the Wilkins family in Winchester over three decades ago (35th anniversary in 2019).

Arboretum

The Arboretum’s master plan and first plantings were completed in 2000 and a dedication occurred in 2003. The Arboretum, located between Pleasant Valley Road and Maple Drive in Jim Barnett Park, features approximately 40 species represented in approximately 100 trees. Many of the trees were dedicated and planted in memory of loved ones or in honor of someone. Soon, the Arboretum will focus on native species for educational purposes as well as ecological considerations.

Sensory Trail

Thanks to the Winchester Host Lions Club, Jim Barnett Park now (2021) has a Sensory Trail near the Arboretum. It is the third such trail in Virginia and the only one in a city.

The trail includes:

  • gravel walkway
  • benches
  • waist-high guideline to help people with limited or no sight find their way along the trail
  • signs with both raised and braille lettering in front of 14 trees to help users learn about the trees which are close enough to touch and smell
  • herb garden
  • more to be added over time

Parking is available in the lot of Jones Funeral Home (228 S. Pleasant Valley Road) which is where the entrance to the trail is located or at the Rec Center.

Who was Jim Barnett?

Jim Barnett was both a dedicated and devoted director of the Winchester Parks & Recreation Department for more than thirty years. His leadership was instrumental during a period of unprecedented growth and development. He had unceasing energy, contagious enthusiasm and a positive attitude and presented throughout the years, by his generosity, personal involvement and self-sacrifice, what every citizen should be to their community. On August 26, 1987, the Winchester Parks & Recreation Board did unanimously resolve that the City Recreation Park shall be officially designated “Jim Barnett Park.”

Grady Painter
Athletics & Facilities Coordinator
Winchester Parks & Recreation
1001 East Cork Street
Winchester, VA  22601
(540) 662-4946
Fax (540) 678-8791
Email