431 E Washington Street
|
Last updated on March 25, 2024
|
Directions from Lucy F. Simms School to site 23:
- Exit the Simms Center parking lot
- Make a right onto Simms Ave
- Make a right onto E Washington St
- Drive up the hill and the park is on your right
- Pull into the parking lot
Ralph Sampson Park is named after Harrisonburg native Ralph Sampson Jr. Sampson was born on July 7, 1960. He attended Harrisonburg High School and won two State AA Championships for boys’ basketball in 1978 and 1979. The promising 7’4” talent went on to attend the University of Virginia (UVA) to receive a bachelor’s degree and further his basketball career. The center player was named Naismith National Player of the Year four times. At UVA, Sampson and his team won the National Invitation Tournament and made it to the NCAA Final Four in 1981.
Sampson was the first pick in the 1983 NBA draft for the Houston Rockets. He won Rookie of the Year in 1984 and led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA finals. He earned the all-star title three times and the All-Star Game MVP in 1985. During his time in the NBA, Sampson played for the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Bullets. He retired in 1992 after playing professional basketball for nine years. Ralph Sampson Jr. was inducted into the Virginia Hall of Fame in 1996. He was honored as one of the best basketball players in ACC history in 2002 for the Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Men’s Basketball Team. Sampson went on to find the Winner’s Circle Foundation and published a book to help young athletes. He opened a restaurant in Charlottesville, VA, called Ralph Sampson’s American Taproom.
Ralph Sampson Park is located on East Washington Street and covers 31 acres. This city park has two picnic shelters, restrooms, a futsal complex, three basketball courts, a playground, a sports field, horseshoe pits, and a walking trail. Before Ralph Sampson Park, the area adjacent to the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center (former Simms School) was part of the Northeast Park (later Simms Park).
Sampson was the first pick in the 1983 NBA draft for the Houston Rockets. He won Rookie of the Year in 1984 and led the Rockets to the 1986 NBA finals. He earned the all-star title three times and the All-Star Game MVP in 1985. During his time in the NBA, Sampson played for the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Bullets. He retired in 1992 after playing professional basketball for nine years. Ralph Sampson Jr. was inducted into the Virginia Hall of Fame in 1996. He was honored as one of the best basketball players in ACC history in 2002 for the Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Men’s Basketball Team. Sampson went on to find the Winner’s Circle Foundation and published a book to help young athletes. He opened a restaurant in Charlottesville, VA, called Ralph Sampson’s American Taproom.
Ralph Sampson Park is located on East Washington Street and covers 31 acres. This city park has two picnic shelters, restrooms, a futsal complex, three basketball courts, a playground, a sports field, horseshoe pits, and a walking trail. Before Ralph Sampson Park, the area adjacent to the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center (former Simms School) was part of the Northeast Park (later Simms Park).
