City of Charlottesville
Parks and Recreation Master Plan
| Location: | Completed: | Project Type: | Partners: |
| Charlottesville, Virginia | 2025 | City-Wide Parks and Recreation Master Plan | Kimley-Horn Zec Insights E-Prep Solutions ETC Institute |
The Charlottesville, home of University of Virginia, is dedicated to enriching the community by offering a diverse range of programs and maintaining vital public spaces. The Parks and Recreation Department provides management and maintenance for City parks, the Downtown Mall, cemeteries, City school grounds, major thoroughfares, neighborhood rights-of-way, and neighborhood entryways. Additionally, the department coordinates a variety of activities, including instructional classes, youth and adult sports programs, and special community events. With responsibility for maintaining all City parks, encompassing 2,300 acres, Charlottesville Parks and Recreation ensures spaces for recreation, relaxation, and connection for the entire family.
In 2023, PROS Consulting was retained to work with the City of Charlottesville on the 2025 City of Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Master Plan serves as a strategic guide for aligning community priorities with the City’s decision-making over the next decade. Developed through extensive public engagement in 2023-2024, the plan evaluated the current state of Charlottesville’s parks and recreation system, identified key focus areas for long-term development, and integrated community input with technical research to establish strategic recommendations.
Through a comprehensive outreach process, including public forums, surveys, project engagement website, stakeholder interviews, and participation in local events, the plan reflects the community’s vision while ensuring financial sustainability and enhancing park assets, amenities, and user experiences. Grounded in recognized park planning principles and standards, it provides a clear roadmap for future investments in parks, recreational facilities, and programs.
The primary goal of the Master Plan was to guide the City’s investment in recreational opportunities and city-owned and co-owned parks and facilities over the next ten years. It aims to help City staff and decision-makers ensure an equitable distribution of recreational resources to benefit all Charlottesville residents. By integrating community voices with expert analysis, the Master Plan lays the foundation for a vibrant, accessible, and sustainable parks and recreation system that meets Charlottesville’s evolving needs.
