Park & Facility Planning

Welcome to the Parks, Recreation and Tourism's Park and Facility Planning Division which consists of Park and Facility Planning, Urban Forestry and Landscape Design.

Lakeside ParkThe department is actively working towards a 10-minute walk goal ensuring that all Chesapeake residents live within a 10-minute walk from a public park or meaningful open space. To achieve this goal, park planning staff works with citizens, city staff, and other stakeholders to acquire, design, and improve parks throughout the City of Chesapeake.

Parks, Recreation and Tourism acquires land for future parks through purchase, subdivision requirements, and donations. The department's Park Planner works with real estate agents, developers, architectural and engineering firms, citizens, and state and federal officials to acquire, master plan, and develop these properties into future parks. In addition, park planning duties include working on park and environmental issues with various departments such as Planning, Public Works, the Geographic Information System (GIS) committee, and the Chesapeake Historic Preservation Committee.

At present, the Chesapeake park system contains more than 80 parks with 2,453 acres of land, excluding athletic fields. 

Contact Us

  1. Parks, Recreation & Tourism

    Email Parks, Recreation and Tourism

    Physical Address
    1224 Progressive Drive
    Chesapeake Visitor Center
    Chesapeake, VA 23320

    Phone: 757-382-6411
    Fax: 757-277-9365

  1. Urban Forestry
Urban Forestry - photo with MEB volunteers
Our urban forestry staff has been tasked with engaging the staff and residents of Chesapeake in the protection, enhancement, and sustainability of Chesapeake's urban forests. Staff is working hard to ensure that the benefits of a healthy urban forest are available to current residents and visitors as well as future generations. Making Chesapeake a better place to live, learn, work, farm and play one tree at a time.
  1. Landscape Design
Landscaping - Gateway signage at Battlefield Park South

Our landscape design staff aims to beautify our City’s built environment through the design, installation, and maintenance of attractive foundation landscaping around City facilities such as community centers, libraries, and other municipal buildings. In addition to plantings around buildings, landscape designing also enhances more natural areas in the City’s parks, to include meadow-making and park gateway signage.  

  1. Projects

Newton Neck Park - As approved at the January 25, 2022 Chesapeake City Council meeting via Resolution (22-R-08) and facilitated by the Living River Restoration Trust (LRT), the City of Chesapeake accepted a deed from Southport Land Corporation and executed a grant agreement with the state relating to the purchase of the Newton Neck property for use as a public park. This unique and beautiful 90-acre waterfront property is located on the southern branch of the Elizabeth River at 5550 Bainbridge Point. The transfer of deed for the Newton Neck property took place on January 31, 2022, and the property was accepted into the City's park system. City staff met with citizens on November 29, 2022 to discuss the community's vision for this property.

Battlefield Park South - Battlefield Park South is located at 116 Reservation Road, adjacent to the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal and southwest of the Great Bridge Bridge. The park has already experienced a variety of improvements, including the moving of the Battle of Great Bridge monument, the addition of gateway signage with landscaping, a sidewalk from Battlefield Boulevard to the overlook, and improved permanent breastworks for the Battle reenactment. Next up is the addition of more sidewalks throughout the site, tree plantings, an improved parking lot, picnic shelters, and a welcome archway for tourists visiting the site via boat.

The Chesapeake Tree List - The team has been hard at work creating a new tree list document to guide the citizens of Chesapeake in tree selection. The list contains a variety of tree sizes and types with detailed information about site conditions needed for different tree types to thrive. 

Newton neck park 275X175
Battlefield Park South - site layout
Tree List - First Page of Tree List Document
  1. Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

  • Invasive Species Removal Day at the Chesapeake Arboretum. Dates: January 28, February 25, March 18, April 21. Please consider joining us as we work to remove the invasive species growing at the Chesapeake Arboretum. This is our fourth event of this kind and previous attendees have always had a great time taking part is this rewarding work. For more information and times, please review the flyer.

Reference Documents

  1. The Chesapeake Tree List (PDF)