The Fan & VCU

GWAR, Bruce Springsteen, Aimee Mann, and Tom Robbins spent formative years exploring the residential streets, cobblestoned alleys, hidden parks, and river views that make up the swath of land west of the Capital City's downtown presence. As Virginia Commonwealth University has grown, it's become more and more a part of the surrounding Fan District. The two have housed cultural, gastronomical, and creative forces for years, and their mix of genteel style and gritty energy set the resulting neighborhood apart. Nearby, Hollywood Cemetery brings historic star-power to the area by serving as the resting place of US Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler, in addition to offering killer views of Downtown and the James River.

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Scuffletown Park

Address
418 Strawberry Street
Free Lyft
Free Lyft

It’s named after the erstwhile Scuffletown Road (now Park Avenue), which ran past a tavern in which Benedict Arnold got into a kerfuffle with local militia. But that gritty history was left in the 18th century—these days the Scuffletown pocket park provides a hidden break from the Fan bustle. With a close proximity to 8 1/2 and other Strawberry Street mainstays, a lush, shady setting, and ample seating, Scuffletown Park is a natural magnet for impromptu concerts, gardeners, revelers, and even a local tortoise that can be found sunning itself from time to time. Bonus: Dog-free grass patches make great picnic spots.

Scuffletown Park
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Scuffletown Park
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Scuffletown Park
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Scuffletown Park
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Scuffletown Park
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Scuffletown Park
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Video Fan

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