
Parks & Recreation
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and protecting our coastal environment.
Learn & Earn this summer! SYEP Applications are officially open.
Apply Now!
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and protecting our coastal environment.
Get ready to discover the incredible wonders of Virginia Beach with Parks & Recreation. Get lost in a world of outdoor fun, with swimming, fishing, hiking, and biking surrounded by Virginia's breathtaking natural beauty.
Take your wellness journey to the next level at our seven cutting-edge recreational centers, where you can unleash your inner athlete in state-of-the-art fitness centers or make a splash in our indoor pools and aquatics facilities. With an exciting array of programs and activities for everyone, Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation offers unforgettable experiences that will create legendary memories for a lifetime.
The City of Virginia Beach is accepting bids from qualified organizations whose primary business is the promotion and operation of pickleball facilities to manage the Pickleball Virginia Beach facility (formerly Owl Creek Tennis Center).
Fresh air, scenic views, and plenty of ways to explore. Find your next outdoor adventure.
From summer camps to community fun, there's always something happening nearby.
Discover hidden gems and local favorites with the free VB ParkFinder app.
The Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Seasonal Activity Guide is your go-to source for programs, events, and activities for all ages. From fitness and sports to nature programs, arts, and family fun, there's something for everyone each season.

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation (VBPR) was named the 2023 National Gold Medal Award winner for excellence in Parks and Recreation Management by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), at the NRPA Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. VBPR won Gold in the Class I category, the largest category, for cities with populations over 400,000.
Founded in 1965, the National Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the United States that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long‐range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Applications are separated into six classes, with five classes based on population and one class for armed forces.

October 30, 2025
June 25, 2025
June 11, 2025
Just in time for summer, popular Virginia Beach park opens with traffic improvements.
June 3, 2025
Now lighting up Williams Farm, Level Green and Green Run with free family fun!
January 22, 2026
Virginia Beach goes above and beyond to safeguard heritage trees and grow a healthier, more resilient canopy.
January 15, 2026
Applications for the 2026 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) open now through March 12.
January 12, 2026
Celebrate the season with owl encounters, guided excursions, hands-on workshops and inspiring keynote speakers.
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA, the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association. CAPRA stands for the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.
But what does that actually mean? It means that our Parks & Recreation Department is meeting, or exceeding, standards maintained by park and recreation leaders and strengthening the value of the programs, facilities, and experiences provided to our community.