虎(hu)跑(pao)公(gong)園(yuan),又名(ming)(ming)虎(hu)跑(pao)夢(meng)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),是一處(chu)以“泉(quan)(quan)(quan)”為(wei)主題的景(jing)(jing)觀(guan),又是以性空、濟公(gong)、弘一法(fa)師傳奇(qi)故事為(wei)特色(se)的人(ren)(ren)文景(jing)(jing)觀(guan)。虎(hu)跑(pao)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)和龍井泉(quan)(quan)(quan)、玉泉(quan)(quan)(quan)并稱西湖三大名(ming)(ming)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)。虎(hu)跑(pao)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)周圍有著(zhu)迷人(ren)(ren)的自(zi)然景(jing)(jing)色(se)與人(ren)(ren)文景(jing)(jing)觀(guan),既能(neng)夠遍賞名(ming)(ming)山,賞觀(guan)名(ming)(ming)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),又可踏訪(fang)名(ming)(ming)寺,拜(bai)見名(ming)(ming)僧。
1100余(yu)年歷(li)史綿延流傳,使(shi)虎(hu)跑(pao)積淀了(le)豐(feng)富的(de)(de)(de)文化(hua)內(nei)(nei)(nei)涵(han),但是(shi)(shi)景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)點老(lao)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)現(xian)象也(ye)十分嚴重,自1985年整(zheng)(zheng)修(xiu)至今,整(zheng)(zheng)個景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)區(qu)內(nei)(nei)(nei)木結構老(lao)建(jian)筑(zhu)的(de)(de)(de)木構件(jian)霉爛(lan)及白蟻蛀蝕十分嚴重,木材面油漆及墻面粉(fen)刷(shua)層(ceng)嚴重脫落,已(yi)影響各建(jian)筑(zhu)正常使(shi)用(yong)功(gong)能及景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)區(qu)景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)觀,景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)區(qu)內(nei)(nei)(nei)基(ji)礎(chu)設(she)施陳(chen)舊(jiu)落后,配套不健全(quan),排水不暢、線(xian)路老(lao)化(hua),硬件(jian)設(she)施等(deng)均已(yi)無(wu)法滿足(zu)現(xian)代景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)區(qu)要(yao)求,也(ye)與西湖的(de)(de)(de)整(zheng)(zheng)體環(huan)(huan)境不相協調。2007年4月,為(wei)使(shi)老(lao)景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)區(qu)重新(xin)綻放(fang)光彩,對虎(hu)跑(pao)公園進行了(le)保護(hu)整(zheng)(zheng)治(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。此次保護(hu)整(zheng)(zheng)治(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)工程以(yi)“突(tu)出生態、保護(hu)原(yuan)貌、展(zhan)示文化(hua)”為(wei)原(yuan)則(ze),以(yi)谷幽、林盛、溪(xi)清的(de)(de)(de)生態環(huan)(huan)境為(wei)基(ji)礎(chu),以(yi)“名(ming)泉(quan)”、“名(ming)茶”為(wei)特色(se),突(tu)出“名(ming)僧”、“名(ming)人”文化(hua)內(nei)(nei)(nei)涵(han),目標是(shi)(shi)將虎(hu)跑(pao)公園打造成為(wei)集觀光、游覽、休憩、健身活動為(wei)主要(yao)功(gong)能的(de)(de)(de)山(shan)地公園。整(zheng)(zheng)治(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)工程內(nei)(nei)(nei)容包含(han)景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)區(qu)老(lao)建(jian)筑(zhu)維修(xiu)、配套基(ji)礎(chu)設(she)施完(wan)善、水系整(zheng)(zheng)理及水景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)營造、人文景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)觀資源的(de)(de)(de)挖(wa)掘與展(zhan)示,整(zheng)(zheng)治(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后的(de)(de)(de)虎(hu)跑(pao)集泉(quan)文化(hua)、茶文化(hua)、佛(fo)教文化(hua)于一景(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing),再現(xian)了(le)山(shan)水之勝、林壑(he)之美。
關于(yu)(yu)寺(si)名(ming)的由來,有(you)一(yi)(yi)個有(you)趣(qu)的傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)。相傳(chuan)(chuan)寰中禪師于(yu)(yu)南岳(yue)童子寺(si)出(chu)家后來杭州,看中此(ci)處景色佳美,便(bian)結(jie)庵(an)于(yu)(yu)此(ci),后因苦于(yu)(yu)無水而欲離去。夜得一(yi)(yi)夢(meng),夢(meng)中有(you)神人說(shuo)(shuo):“南岳(yue)童子泉(quan)(quan)(quan)當遣二(er)虎(hu)(hu)移來”,次日清晨果見二(er)虎(hu)(hu)跑地作穴,泉(quan)(quan)(quan)水即時涌出(chu)。此(ci)后,泉(quan)(quan)(quan)即名(ming)“虎(hu)(hu)跑泉(quan)(quan)(quan)”,此(ci)寺(si)也被稱為(wei)(wei)“虎(hu)(hu)跑寺(si)”。“虎(hu)(hu)跑夢(meng)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)”為(wei)(wei)新(xin)西湖十景之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。虎(hu)(hu)跑公(gong)園內(nei)景點眾多,尤以虎(hu)(hu)跑泉(quan)(quan)(quan)最為(wei)(wei)聞名(ming),虎(hu)(hu)跑泉(quan)(quan)(quan)屬裂隙(xi)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),是一(yi)(yi)種適于(yu)(yu)飲(yin)用(yong),具有(you)相當醫療保健(jian)功用(yong)的優質天(tian)然飲(yin)用(yong)礦泉(quan)(quan)(quan)水,與龍(long)井茶葉并稱"西湖雙絕"。虎(hu)(hu)跑也是名(ming)人薈集之(zhi)地,道(dao)濟、李叔同(tong)都曾在此(ci)留下了傳(chuan)(chuan)奇故事(shi),公(gong)園內(nei)的濟公(gong)殿(dian)、濟公(gong)塔以及(ji)李叔同(tong)紀(ji)念(nian)館、弘一(yi)(yi)精舍(she)均是為(wei)(wei)紀(ji)念(nian)他們而建。蘇(su)東(dong)坡、貫云(yun)石、袁(yuan)宏道(dao)、高濂(lian)都在此(ci)題(ti)寫了流傳(chuan)(chuan)千古的詩文,康熙也曾三(san)次游玩(wan)虎(hu)(hu)跑,對(dui)虎(hu)(hu)跑泉(quan)(quan)(quan)偏愛有(you)加。