Tidewater Virginia contains hundreds of public areas including historic sites, national parks, national wildlife refuges, state parks, municipal parks, water trails, wildlife preserves, and other resources.
National Parks and Historic Sites
Colonial National Historic Park (Yorktown)
Fort Monroe National Monument (Hampton)
Old Cape Henry Lighthouse National Historic Landmark (Virginia Beach)
Assateague National Seashore (Eastern Shore)
National Wildlife Refuges
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia Beach)
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Chesapeake)
Rappahannock River Valley Wildlife Refuge (Northern Neck)
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (Eastern Shore)
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (Eastern Shore)
State Parks
First Landing State Park (Virginia Beach)
False Cape State Park
Chippokes Plantation State Park
Belle Island State Park (Northern Neck)
Westmoreland State Park (Northern Neck)
Kiptopeke State Park (Eastern Shore)
Municipal Parks
Chesapeake
The City of Chesapeake has more than 70 public parks in a range of sizes and locations. Parks feature open play areas, playground equipment, sports courts, picnic shelters and tables, dog parks, horseshoe pits, ball fields, trails, and other amenities.
Major Parks:
Bells Mill Park
Centerville Park
Chesapeake Arboretum
Chesapeake City Park
Deep Creek Lock Park
Deep Creek Park
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
Elizabeth River Park
Great Bridge Lock Park
Indian River Park
Lakeside Park
Northwest River Park
Oak Grove Lake Park
Western Branch Park
Hampton
Bluebird Gap Farm
Fort Wool (owned by Commonwealth of Virginia)
Grandview Nature Preserve
Gosnold’s Hope Park
Mill Point Park
Sandy Bottom Nature Park
Newport News
The Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism operates over 20 parks in the City, including Newport News Park, the largest municipal park on the East Coast.
Major Parks:
Newport News Park
Anderson Park / Peterson’s Yacht Basin
Beechlake Park
Christopher Newport Park
Deer Park
Denbigh Park Boat Ramp
Harwood’s Mill
Hilton Pier
Huntington Park, Beach, and Tennis Center
King-Lincoln Park
Lake Maury
Riverview Farm Park
The Mariners’ Museum Park
Victory Landing Park
Norfolk
The City of Norfolk Parks System includes 2 festival parks (Town Point Park and Ocean View Beach Park), 3 beach parks, community parks, dog parks, community centers, numerous small neighborhood parks, and other resources.
Town Point Park (festival park)
Barraud Park
Lafayette Park
Lakewood Park
Northside Park
Northside Skate Plaza
Poplar Hall Park
Shoop Park
Tarrallton Park
Poplar Hall Park
Virginia Zoological Park
Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk Public Beaches:
Community Beach Park – 700 E. Ocean View Ave.
Ocean View Beach Park – 100 W. Ocean View Ave. (festival park)
Sarah Constant Beach Park – 300 W. Ocean View Ave.
Suffolk
Major Parks:
Bennett’s Creek Park
Constant’s Wharf Park & Marina
Lake Meade Park
Lone Star Lakes Park
Sleepy Hole Park
Virginia Beach
The City of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Department manages more than 7,000 acres of parks and natural areas, community recreation centers, a municipal marina, and an athletic complex.
Major Parks:
Bayville Farms Park
Beach Garden Park
City View Park
Great Neck Park
Grommet Island Park
Hillier Ignite Fitness Park
Kempes Landing Park
Lake Lawson/Lake Smith Natural Area
Little Island Park
Lynnhaven Park
Marshview Park
Mount Trashmore Park
Munden Point Park
Pleasure House Point Natural Area
Princess Anne Commons Gateway Park
Providence Park
Pungo Ferry Landing Park
Red Mill Farms Park
Red Wing Park
Stumpy Lake Natural Area
West Neck Creek Natural Area
Williams Farm Park
Woodstock Park
Williamsburg
The City of Williamsburg owns and maintains community parks, neighborhood parks, and passive parks.
Community Parks:
Waller Mill Park
Quarterpath Park
Kiwanis Park
Privately Owned Parks and Preserves
Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve
Water Trails and other Resources
John Smith National Historic Trail
Elizabeth River Trail (land)
Eastern Branch Elizabeth River Water Trail
Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail
NOTE: Our parks page is undergoing seasonal maintenance
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