Parks and Recreation

May we add your e-mail address to our list? We are collecting e-mail addresses to better provide citizens with the information and services in which you are most interested. You will have the opportunity to opt-in or opt-out of the service at any time. Information may include notices of special events, new programs and facilities, registration dates, volunteer opportunities and more. Send us an e-mail at parksrec@chesterfield.gov to have your address put on the list. Please include your name, full mailing address and phone number in the e-mail. The Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Summer 2008 Program Guide is now available online and in county libraries and county buildings. Registration is ongoing. For more information call the department at (804)748-1623 or e-mail us at parksrec@chesterfield.gov

A new trail bridge opened June 21 at the Dutch Gap Conservation Area. The 210-foot bridge, which took eight months to complete and was funded through a bond, connects the trail loop in the conservation area over the water to make a 4½-mile walk. The complete loop offers nature lovers the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife that calls the 810-acre conservation area home.

A freestanding kiosk provides information on the trails as well as events and programs. Several different trail spurs are available for those who wish to observe or fish. There is also a special observation deck camouflaged from wildlife so that visitors can gaze into the swamp.

Bikers, bird watchers and walkers alike will benefit from the new bridge over the channel as they enjoy Dutch Gap’s woods, wetlands and wildlife. The area is bordered by the James River on the north and encircled by the Old Oxbow Channel. It is home to eagles, beavers, muskrats and other wildlife. The area is a favorite for walkers and boaters. The Dutch Gap Conservation Area is located at 411 Coxendale Road, adjacent to Henricus Historical Park.

Chesterfield County is the perfect place to live and work...

as evidenced by American City Business Journals' ranking in May 2004 as the "17th Best Place to Live in America." But, did you know it's also a great place to play?

There are more than 30 public parks here featuring nearly 3,000 acres of green space, an abundance of historical landmarks and several sports complexes that include playing fields. Pocahontas State Park also is located in the county.

Chesterfield's central location on the eastern seaboard also places it within a one-day drive of 50 percent of the U.S. population. It's just two hours from Virginia Beach, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Washington, D.C.; Colonial Williamsburg is just an hour away, as are Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens theme parks.

The Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation offers a steady array of athletic and sporting events, outdoor adventures, therapeutic recreation, special programs for senior adults, teens, families and persons with disabilities, historical tours and annual cultural events and holiday festivities. For more information, call (804) 748-1623.