Recreation Area
Background/History
The Raintree Recreation Area is about 2.25 acres of Raintree Association property which historically has been been an open field/meadow. Based on historical aerial photographs, this was an open area since at least the late 1950’s, before Raintree was developed. After Raintree’s development, this open area was maintained and available to residents for recreational use.
During the late 1990’s, earth from the dredging of Gregory’s Pond was deposited in this area, and raised the terrain so that is is now several feet in elevation above the surrounding terrain and relatively level.
Beginning in the mid to late 2000’s, the Raintree Association elected to discontinue maintenance of this area. Over the following two decades, small trees and brush gradually encroached on the open area until all the remaining open area was filled and it was no longer usable for recreation activities.
Future Plans
In 2023, based on feedback received from residents, the Raintree Association began the process of preparing this area for future recreational use. The demand for a recreational area within Raintree is driven by two main factors:
Shifting demographics of the association’s members, specifically a marked increase in the number of families with children.
Continued rapid development in the Short Pump area that has lead to overcrowding at public recreational facilities, such as Deep Run Park and Short Pump Park.
The following initial steps were taken towards re-establishing the area for recreational use:
Creation of the Old Gregory’s Pond Trail, which provides direct access to the area from the North via the Stony Run Trail and Falconbridge Drive.
Clearing of the area nearest to Gregory’s Pond (roughly 0.25 acres).
In 2024, the Raintree Association plans to perform additional clearing roughly to the extent of the clearing that existed in the late 1990’s. This will allow for assessment of the area’s suitability for potential future use or improvements.
Potential Uses
Beyond just an open area for mixed recreational use, a variety of additional potential uses and improvements have been suggested for the area, including:
Dog Park
Playground
Sports Field
Picnic Area/Tables
Before proceeding with any improvements to the area beyond clearing, the Raintree Association plans to solicit feedback from its members via various means to help prioritize improvements and develop a long term plan for the area. Due to our limited budget, improvements will happen incrementally and it may take a number of years to accomplish the entire plan.
Location
Raintree Recreation Area is located on the north end of Gregory’s Pond between Lakecrest Court and Deep Run.
The area is accessible via our network of trails and paths. Specifically, it can be accessed from the north via the Old Gregory’s Pond Trail and the south via the Gregory’s Pond path.
Raintree Recreation Area, 1998 Extent
Why This Area?
While the Raintree Association’s common areas total over 100 acres, this area is uniquely qualified to serve as a recreational area for the following reasons:
Access
The area is accessible via multiple trails/paths.
Central Location
Low Cost and Low Impact Clearing
Since the area has only been unmaintained for about 15 years, most of the vegetation is brush and small-diameter trees.
Terrain
Unlike much of our property, this area is large, relatively level, and not prone to flooding.
Zoning
Much of our property is zoned for residential use, but this area is zoned C-1, which allows it to be used for noncommercial recreation areas and facilities.