Build Our Park is a 100% volunteer led, non-profit organization dedicated to the creation of a privately-funded public park in the heart of downtown Harrisonburg.

Mission Statement: Work with private and public partners to create and sustain a vibrant, beautiful and welcoming urban public park in Harrisonburg’s city center for the economic benefit and quality of life enhancement of the downtown district, larger Harrisonburg community and central Shenandoah Valley region.

Location: The park will be developed on land owned by the City of Harrisonburg, located between the Turner Pavilion and the Lindsey Funeral Home property. The west border will be Liberty Street, and the east border will be the alley and pocket park behind the Municipal Building. These boundaries are consistent with, but scaled back from the recommendations of the Urban Land Institute study and the Harrisonburg Downtown 2040 Master Plan.

Guiding Principles

Based on the experience of other urban parks but tailored to the unique local needs and aspirations, the Build Our Park board adopted the following guiding principles:

  • Keep the park people-focused, child friendly, inclusive and accessible by promoting positive social relationships, multi-generational use and multicultural life.

  • Actively design park amenities to support program activities to appeal to a broad range of interests and diverse populations.

  • Create a civic plaza and open space to celebrate community and to support large and small programs, activities and events.

  • Develop a park that features history, the arts, plants, and area natural resources.

  • Collaborate with the Farmers Market as a key park amenity.

  • Make the park as nature based, sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.

  • Create and reinforce linkages to, from and through the park to neighboring areas to encourage public access, cycling and walking.

  • Make the park a catalyst for downtown development by attracting a diversity of businesses, services, residents and visitors.

  • Form a future park conservancy to provide financial support and citizen input into ongoing park maintenance and programming.