Nestled in the heart of downtown Hampton, Mill Point Park provides birders with a view of the Hampton River as well as easy access to shopping, food and drink, and historic sites in the city’s quaint downtown. The main part of the park is located on E. Queen Street, and is a grassy, landscaped area with scattered trees, picnic benches, and a small stage that is occasionally used for events. However, the park also connects to a .5-mile paved trail which hugs the bank of the Hampton River, taking you from the Hampton Marina at the south end to Lincoln Street at the north. Walking this trail is a great way to view the Hampton River from multiple vantage points. In winter, look for a good mix of ducks and gulls. Spring brings migrating gulls and terns, as well as the return of local breeders including Laughing Gulls, Ospreys, and Royal Terns.
Though the highlight of this park is birding the river, the paved trail also runs adjacent to a wooded development. Some residents have bird feeders, which draw an assortment of suburban birds. There is also a nesting colony of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons in this neighborhood, which are easy to see from the park once they return in early April.
Accessibility: This park is free and open to the public everyday from 7am until sunset. Free parking is available on the adjacent streets or the nearby Eaton St. Parking Garage.
Owner/Manager: City of Hampton
eBird Hotspot: Mill Point Park
—Matt Anthony