Poplar Lawn Park (Central Park), with it’s 11-acres, has been the recreational center of the City of Petersburg for many years dating back to the later 1700s before its incorporation in the City in 1844. The Park was also the center of many monumental events in the City's History, from its place in the City's War of 1812 history, General Lafayette's return to the City after he sought to defend the City from the British 43 years earlier, and its use during the Siege of Petersburg during the Civil War.

Like many mid-sized aging cites, Petersburg had also suffered decline beginning in the 1960s. As money became tight, the grand Poplar Lawn Park also suffered from dwindling budgets and other social factors. The park was left to deteriorate, but thankfully the 100 year old plans to continue South Adams Street through the middle were never acted on when they resurfaced.

The last major improvements to the park took place sometime in 1982. Of those improvements many today would not be consider acceptable to historic fabric of the park. Since 1982, many dedicated residents have sought improvements and to stop further deterioration in Poplar Lawn Park with much of the work being done by themselves.