Green Pastures Recreation Area

Green Pastures Recreation Area is a state park in Clifton Forge, Virginia, in the George Washington National Forest. The park contains over 8 miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as fishing in Blue Suck Run. The park is also home to an historic picnic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

History

The park was constructed in 1936 after lobbying from the Clifton Forge Chapter of the NAACP to create a park for black Virginians, and opened to the public in 1940. The park was officially desegregated in 1950, and renamed to Longdale Recreation Area after the surrounding town. The park was closed in 2017 due to budget issues. After community activism, amendments added to Governor Ralph Northam's 2020 budget bill reopened the park under its historic name, Green Pastures Recreation Area.