Osborne Park and Boat Landing
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Osborne Park and Boat Landing offers families a versatile and tranquil outdoor experience, particularly appealing for those interested in kayaking with children. It combines a peaceful river setting with practical amenities like clean restrooms, shaded pavilions, and a children's swing set. Beyond kayaking, parents can enjoy excellent catfish fishing from the pier, explore paved trails and a marsh boardwalk, and observe unique river traffic, making it ideal for a diverse family outing.
Key Highlights
- ✓Very clean and well-maintained bathrooms, a significant plus for families.
- ✓Shaded pavilions are available, perfect for breaks, picnics, or sun protection.
- ✓Children's swings provide a dedicated play area for kids.
- ✓Mornings are consistently described as tranquil and peaceful, ideal for calm kayaking.
- ✓Excellent pier fishing opportunities, especially for large catfish (reports of 60lb catches).
- ✓Paved trails throughout the park and a boardwalk through a marsh offer easy walking and nature exploration.
- ✓Provides unique views of large container ferries passing by, which can be fascinating for children.
Standout Features
- ⭐**Clean & Accessible Restrooms:** A top priority for families, consistently noted as "neat and well maintained."
- ⭐**Shaded Pavilions:** Essential for family comfort, offering protection from the sun during extended visits or picnics.
- ⭐**Children's Swings:** Provides a simple yet effective recreational outlet for younger kids.
- ⭐**Paved Trails & Boardwalk:** Enhances accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs, offering varied scenery from river views to marshland.
- ⭐**Tranquil Morning Ambiance:** Creates a serene setting for a relaxed family outing, especially for kayaking.
- ⭐**Large Catfish Fishing:** A distinct draw for families interested in fishing, with the potential for impressive catches.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**Pack Your Own Supplies:** Bring all necessary snacks, drinks, and fishing bait, as there is no on-site refreshment or bait center.
- →**Plan for Mornings:** Visit during morning hours for the most tranquil and peaceful park experience, ideal for calm water activities.
- →**Supervise Water Activities:** Be aware of other boat traffic on the river if kayaking with children and maintain close supervision.
- →**Set Fishing Expectations:** If fishing, focus on catfish; don't expect to catch bass or bluegill frequently.
- →**Bring Bug Spray:** Especially if planning to explore the marsh boardwalk area.
Things to Consider
- ⚠There is no bait or refreshment center on the fishing side, requiring parents to bring their own supplies.
- ⚠Fishing is primarily good for catfish; bass or bluegill are rarely caught.
- ⚠There can be noticeable noise and activity from "boats coming and going" on the water, which parents should consider for younger kayakers.
Price & Value
Pricing for kayaking rentals (if applicable) or park entry is not mentioned in the reviews. The primary value appears to be in the diverse, well-maintained, and presumably free-to-access park amenities (swings, trails, pavilions, fishing pier) combined with public boat landing access. No specific hidden costs are mentioned, but parents should factor in bringing their own refreshments and bait.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Paved trails throughout the park suggest good accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs.
- •A boardwalk through the marsh also indicates accessible nature exploration.
- •Restrooms are described as "neat and well maintained," often implying standard accessibility.
- •No specific sensory-friendly hours or special needs accommodations beyond physical accessibility are mentioned.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No explicit food policy is stated in the reviews. However, the absence of a refreshment center on the fishing side strongly implies that bringing your own food, snacks, and drinks is not only permitted but necessary for visitors.
🚗Parking Info
- •While not explicitly detailed, the mention of "trucks and boat trailers" during a professional fishing tournament suggests ample and suitable parking facilities for both regular vehicles and those towing trailers.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Generally peaceful, especially during morning hours, making it ideal for a calm start.
- •Described as "fairly quiet apart from boats coming and going."
- •Even during a "pro fishing tournament," the atmosphere remained "peaceful," though there were many "trucks and boat trailers" (implying land-based activity).
- •Expect some activity and noise from boat traffic on the water, but the general park atmosphere often remains serene.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Reviews highlight "neat and well maintained" bathrooms, suggesting a general standard of cleanliness and upkeep across the venue.
- •No specific safety features related to water activities (e.g., life jacket requirements, dedicated supervision) or playground safety (e.g., specialized surfaces) are explicitly mentioned in the provided reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If your primary fishing interest is catching bass or bluegill.
- • If you anticipate needing to purchase snacks, drinks, or bait on-site, as these amenities are not available.
- • If your family prefers an entirely silent outdoor experience, due to occasional noise from "boats coming and going."
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
BASS Masters events
1989 and 1990
Many BASS Masters events have been held here.
📅Booking Policy
- • Picnic shelters are reservable.
Recent Reviews
Arun Hari
6 years agoA wonderful place to fish if you know where the usual snags are. People caught 60 Lb catfishes off the pier here. It’s quite a view looking at an occasional passing by huge container ferry. Lots of catfish and rarely do you head back without a bite. Not much of bass or bluegill. Wish they had a bait/ refreshment center in the fishing side. Bathrooms are neat and well maintained.
Scott Hackenburg
2 years agoGood place to relax and unwind. Fairly quiet apart from boats coming and going. They have pavilions to give you and your party some shade. Have some swings for the kids. And some historical markers as well! Enjoy!
J Mo
2 years agoAlways tranquil during morning hours. This weekend there is a pro fishing tournament but no boats around only trucks and boat trailers. Still peaceful with birds chipping, waves lapping and a gentle breeze. Great napping weather today.
cherry
2 years agoSurprisingly nice little park. River views are plentiful, trails are all paved, amenities are (mostly) well-kept, and there's even a boardwalk through some marsh.
Jennie Davis
a year ago2023 Boat Parade of lights did NOT disappoint. Beautiful Night and plenty of Xmas cheer!
Contact Information
9530 Osborne Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23231, USA
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