PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
112 Mann Drive
Chesapeake, Va 23322-5214

Phone: 757-382-6411
Fax: 757-382-8418
Email: prgeneral
@cityofchesapeake.net

Register Online for Leisure Guide classes

Looking to make a Special Donation this year?
Give a gift that makes a difference! Make a donation to Chesapeake Parks and Recreation.

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Upcoming Events

A Celebration of Black History at River Crest Community Center
February 6, 2010
2:00pm

Senior Yoga

Find out about other Special Events >>

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The City of Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department has formed a public/private partnership lease agreement with the YMCA to develop summer camp facilities at Northwest River Park.

Find out more >>

 

Parks & Recreation Department

About us: Recreation, leisure activities, and green space are some of the aspects vital to a rich quality-of-life.
More >>

 

Benefits of Parks: As stewards of our city's parks and open spaces, our department is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and a high level of community livability by providing safe and attractive outdoor space.
More >>

 

Benefits of Recreation: By creating, developing and offering diverse programs and activities to stimulate all ages, our staff members are dedicated to bringing you quality leisure activities. More >>

 

What we do: The department serves a diverse public from outdoor enthusiasts to the arts. View the most recent Annual Report for a snap-shot.

 

 

Athletics

Dog Parks

Playgrounds

About Us

• Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department meets the diverse needs of a growing population with a variety of recreational, social and cultural activities and is responsible for maintaining city-owned open space.

• A City Council-appointed citizen advisory board helps direct the operation of the recreation, parks, athletics, community center, senior, therapeutics and leisure divisions.

• Additionally, the grounds maintenance division of Parks and Recreation is responsible for the care, maintenance and beautification of parks, playgrounds, and athletic fields and facilities.

Mission Values

• To offer general introductory level recreational programs at a reasonable cost to participants.

• To create activities that are diverse, educational and fun for all ages.

• To develop, beautify, preserve and maintain the city’s recreational facilities and parks.

• To promote community involvement by fostering a citizen friendly volunteer program.

• To develop opportunities that promote public/private partnerships.

• The Parks and Recreation staff is committed to providing citizens with quality and timely customer service in a professional manner.

Benefits of Parks

Chesapeake has long had a celebrated reputation as a beautiful city and continues to score "big" on the quality-of-life scale with its parks and natural areas. This status, in large part, is due to the talents and efforts of our dedicated recreation and parks staff.

Why it's important to retain land in its natural state…

• Individual BENEFITS –Opportunities for people to experience purpose, pleasure, health and well-being.

• Community BENEFITS –Opportunities to live and interact with families, work groups, neighbors, other communities, and general public.

• Environmental BENEFITS –Enhances the desirability of an area as well as contributes to the health and safety of its inhabitants.

• Economic BENEFITS –Investment in the future for the viability of people and places. Big contributor to the Quality-of-Life of communities which is an enticement to healthy economic development.

Benefits of Recreation

By creating, developing and offering quality and diverse programs and activities, our leisure, community center and senior/therapeutic recreation staffs are dedicated to bringing all ages quality leisure and recreational programs in pursuit of fitness, and a healthy mind and spirit.

• Individual BENEFITS – Recreation enhances overall health and well-being which improves personal quality of life; Leisure activities and recreation:

• are proven therapeutic tools which restore physical, mental and social capabilities and abilities;
• help people live longer;
• prolong independent living for seniors;
• contribute to mental health by reducing stress and depression.

• Community BENEFITS – Recreation provides opportunities to live and interact with families, work groups, neighbors, other communities, and the general public. It helps:

• build strong families and healthy communities;
• provide safe, developmental opportunities for our children;
• build community pride by enhancing social skills and stimulating participation in the community;
• people understand their neighbors through shared knowledge of different cultures.

• Environmental BENEFITS – Recreation enhances the desirability of an area as well as contributes to the health and safety of its inhabitants. See “Benefits of Parks,” also.

• Economic BENEFITS – Investment in the future for the viability of people and places. Big contributor to the Quality-of-Life continuum which is an enticement to healthy economic development. It can be said about a healthy, stimulating recreation program — “Pay now or pay MORE later!

• Recreation reduces health care, social services, police and justice costs;
• Fitness and well-being reduces the incidents and severity of illness and disability—lowering health-care costs;
• Support to families to reduce the costs of social services intervention.
• Reducing crime and social dysfunction—reducing police, justice and incarceration costs.