Elkins Parks & Recreation Department
Providing year-round recreation opportunities with programs and facilities on over 70 acres in the city’s five parks: Bluegrass Park, Davis Street Park, Elkins City Park, Glendale Park and River Bend Park, as well as the Phil Gainer Community Center.
Our City Parks
Parks
Residents and visitors can use the extensive park system for picnics, walks, fishing, organized athletics, or just a little peace and quiet. The five different parks are visited by over 200,000 people annually. Davis Street Park, Elkins City Park, Glendale Park and River Bend Park all feature children’s play equipment. In addition, Glendale Park and River Bend Park have soccer fields, Glendale has a football field, and River Bend has a baseball diamond and two sand volleyball courts. Bluegrass Park also features a baseball diamond. There is a loop walking trail joining Glendale and River Bend Parks.
Pavilion Reservations
- Park pavilions are available to rent from May-October, first-come, first-served.
- Pavilions can be reserved beginning the first working day in January for that year.
- Rental fees must be paid within two weeks of placing the reservation or the date will be reopened. Fourteen days’ notice must be given to the EPRC office in the event of a cancellation. Reservation fees will not be returned after this date.
- The pavilion fees cover events with up to 150 people. Prices will be set by the EPRC for any event over 150 people. Special conditions may apply.
- For pavilion reservations, forms, and additional information, please call the EPRC office at 304-636-3960. If no one answers, please leave a message and a staff member will call you back.
Phil Gainer Community Center
The building that is known today as the Phil Gainer Community Center was constructed in the 1960s as the Elkins National Guard Armory. The city purchased the armory in 2016, and the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission set about renovating and updating the building to make it into the full-featured community resource it is today.
Located at 142 Robert E. Lee Avenue Extension, the Phil Gainer Community Center sits on eight acres near downtown Elkins. The updated facility includes a 10,000-square-foot multipurpose room and a meeting room, both of which are available for event rentals.
The building also houses the Randolph County Family Resource Network and Parents as Teachers. Various clubs and churches use the building on a regular basis.
The facility’s kitchen is fully functional, thanks to a generous donation from the Rotary Club of Elkins. Ample parking is available in an adjacent parking lot.
Recreation Resources
In addition to city parks and recreation facilities, the Elkins area is full of additional recreation resources. A partial list includes:
- Allegheny Highlands Trail (trailhead in Elkins Railyard): highlandstrail.org | Facebook
- Davis & Elkins College (tennis courts, Robert E. Urban Nature Trail): dewv.edu
- Elkins Depot Welcome Center (brochures, maps, excursion planning): elkinsdepot.com and www.elkinsrandolphwv.com
- Elkins-Randolph County YMCA: elkinsymca.com
- Fox Forest Wildlife Management Area (on southern edge of town, near Scott’s Ford Road). Map here.
- Mon Forest Towns website: monforesttowns.com
- Scott’s Ford Fishing Pier and Boat Launch (park here for Fox Forest, above)
- U.S. Forest Service (Monongahela Forest headquarters, on Sycamore Street)
Local sports leagues and clubs:
- Bengals Youth Football (practices at Glendale Park)
- Elkins Little League (practices at River Bend Park)
- Elkins Babe Ruth League (practices at Bluegrass Park)
- Seneca Soccer (practices at Glendale Park and River Bend Park)
- Summer Sand Volleyball League (plays at River Bend Park)
- Ultimate Frisbee (pickup games at River Bend Park on summer Sundays)
Personnel
Tom Tesar
Director, Parks & Recreation
401 Davis Avenue
Elkins, WV 26241
304.636.3960 (mobile)
ttesar@cityofelkinswv.com
Chris Lee
Phil Gainer Community Center Facility Manager
42 Robert E. Lee Avenue Extension
Elkins, WV 26241
304.591.1410 (office)
clee@cityofelkinswv.com
