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.
The 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.
Urban ForestryOur 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.
Landscape DesignOur 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.
