Parks and Facilities

General Parks Rules

Park hours are dawn to dusk (unless using lighted facility). Per county ordinance and park regulations, the following are prohibited:

• Dogs off leash
• Dumping or littering of any material or waste
• Illegal possession of weapons
• Parking in undesignated areas
• Pets on the athletic fields
• Profanity
• Release of domesticated animals or wildlife on county property
• Smoking in posted smoke free areas
• Trespassing or loitering
• Use of drugs, marijuana or alcohol

Trail Rules

At all trails, remember to leave no trace. Trail hours are from dawn to dusk.

• All dogs must be leashed. Dog feces must be cleaned up by owners.
• Collecting of any plants, animals or any artifact (natural or cultural) is prohibited unless approved by Parks and Recreation.
• Feeding of wildlife is prohibited.
• No person shall capture, pursue, injure, attempt to injure, kill or attempt to kill any animal in any park.
• No dumping or littering of any waste material.
• Share the trails.
• Use trails at own risk.

Water Access Rules

View available water access locations.

• All locations - no swimming.
• County and state rules and ordinances apply at all times.
• Do not litter or dump waste.
• Fishing regulations follow Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources regulations.
• No alcohol allowed.
• Park in designated parking areas.

Wildlife

Parks and Recreation does not accept, transport or rehabilitate injured or orphaned wildlife. Please contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources if you encounter wildlife that needs help.

Dog Park Rules

The hours of operation of county dog parks is 7:30 a.m. to dusk. No children under 10 years of age allowed; older children must be under adult supervision.

Owner Responsibilities
All dogs must be accompanied by an adult owner. Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injuries or damages caused by them. Owners are also responsible for:

• Carrying a leash at all times and closely supervising their dog; at no time may the owner exit the fenced area without their dog
• Cleaning up dog feces; bags and a receptacle container are onsite for disposal
• Filling any holes their dog digs
• Having proof of current license and rabies vaccination

Entering the Fenced Area
Please observe the following when entering and exiting the fenced area:

• All dogs must be on-leash until inside the fenced area
• Dogs must be under voice control at all times while inside the fenced area
• Gates to the fenced area must be kept closed except when entering or exiting
• Owners should remove pinch, spike and choke collars prior to entering the fenced area

Prohibited in the Fenced Area
The following are not allowed in the fenced dog park area:

• Aggressive dogs
• Alcoholic beverages, food or glass
• Animals other than dogs
• Bicycles or any motorized devices (except wheelchairs)
• Dogs in heat
• Dogs that are ill or injured
• Dog treats and rawhide chews
• Puppies under four months of age

Dog Park Locations

Ruff House Dog Park, located at Rockwood Park, is a leash-free outdoor facility with separate runs for small dogs and large dogs to roam. 

Chester Dog Park at Goyne Park is leash-free outdoor facility for small and large dogs, with an agility training area. 

Clover Hill Dog Park at the Career and Technical Center is a leash-free facility with separate runs for small dogs and large dogs.

Dogs at Parks

Dogs are allowed outdoors at any of our parks and must remain on a leash at all times. We ask that you please clean up after your dog. Dogs are not allowed indoors at our facilities with exception of service dogs.

Drone Park Rules

Per county ordinance and park regulations, the following are prohibited:

• Dogs off leash
• Dumping and littering of any material or waste
• Illegal possession of weapons
• No flying radio-controlled (RC) units or drones during school hours
• Parking under designated areas
• Pets on the fields
• Smoking in posted smoke free areas
• Use of drugs, marijuana or alcohol

Regulations

These regulations shall apply to all park and recreational property owned, maintained or operated by Chesterfield County, Virginia.

• Alcohol Restricted - No person shall possess opened alcoholic beverage containers or drink an alcoholic beverage or tender a drink of an alcoholic beverage to another in a county park, except at specific locations approved and as conditioned by the board of supervisors, and after obtaining a valid banquet license issued by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and agreeing to comply with the terms of a special permit issued by the county administrator. (Code of Chesterfield County, VA Chapter 14, Section 14-23)
• Animals Protected - No person shall capture, pursue, molest, injure, attempt to injure, kill or attempt to kill any animal in any park.
• Automobile Service - No person may service any automobile on park property, except in cases of an emergency.
• Certain Vehicles Prohibited - Except by the express authorization of the Board of Supervisors, the county administrator, or the county administrator's designee:
  • No person shall operate within any park a motorized vehicle of a type not licensable by the Commonwealth of Virginia for regular use upon public highways.
  • No person shall operate with any park a farm tractor, other farm machinery or any type of vehicle used primarily for earth-mowing operations, whether or not licensable by the Commonwealth of Virginia for regular use upon public highways.
• Conduct - All users, visitors and patrons of county park or recreation facilities shall adhere to the Parks and Recreation Code of Conduct (PDF) and and Code of Conduct - Cosponsored Groups (PDF).
• Destruction or Interference with Park Property - No person may climb upon, deface, destroy, injure in any way, misuse, remove or waste any park property. Permission for collecting items for scientific and/or educational purposes must be obtained in writing from the director or their designee. (Code of Chesterfield County, VA, Chapter 14, Section 14-22)
• Employees - No person may interfere with any Parks and Recreation employee acting in the course of their duties or falsely represent or impersonate a park employee. No person shall fail or refuse to obey the lawful order of a uniformed or properly identified park employee or police officer.
• Enforcement - All state and county laws shall be observed when operating motorized vehicles on park property. Any traffic directive from any member of the Virginia State Police or Chesterfield County Police shall supersede written or posted laws and regulations.
• Facility and Activity Permits - Persons with permits issued by the director shall have priority in the use of facilities. Failure to relinquish facilities to a person with such a permit shall be unlawful and shall constitute trespassing.
• Fires - Builds Restricted - No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire other than in grills or in places provided and/or designated by the county for such purposes, except by prior written permission from the director or their designee.
• Fires - Control Required - Any fire within the confines of any park shall be continuously under the care and supervision of a competent person the time such fire is kindled until the time it is extinguished. (Code of Chesterfield County, VA Chapter 10, Article I, Sec. 10-3)
• Hours of Operation - No person, except a bona fide camper with prior written approval from the director, or a law enforcement officer or county employee in the course of his respective employment, shall enter or remain in any park except during such hours as shall be designated and posted by the county as hours of operation.
• Littering and Dumping - No person may deposit or leave refuse or other substance on park property other than in receptacles provided for this purpose. No person may deposit refuse from private premises in park trash receptacles. (Code of Chesterfield County, Chapter 11, Article III, Section 11-31)
• Parking - No person shall park a motor vehicle or motor-assisted bicycle in areas of any park other than those designated and posted by the county as parking areas.
• Permissible Roadways - Operation of motorized vehicles is allowed only on designated roadways.
• Pollution of Waters - No person shall in the streams, lakes or other waters of any park bathe dogs or other animals; wash vehicles or clothing; or throw, cast, lay, drip or discharge into or leave in the streams, lakes or other waters of the parks or in any storm sewer or drains flowing into said water, any substance matter or thing, liquid or solid, which may or shall result in the pollution of said water. (Code of Chesterfield County, VA Chapter 8, Article III, Section 8-36)
• Restricted Areas - No person shall enter any area which is designated and posted by Parks and Recreation as an area where persons are prohibited from going.
• Restriction of Animals - No person shall have within the park any animal unless it is either caged, securely penned or on a leash of not more than 10 feet in length, and no person shall ride a horse in any park except in areas designated and posted by the county for horseback riding. (Code of Chesterfield County, VA, Chapter 4, Article III, Division I, section 4-23)
• Sales of Goods and Services - No person may sell or advertise for sales of goods or services on Parks and Recreation property without written permission from the director or their designee.
• Speed Limit - No person shall operate any motorized vehicle in excess of 15 miles per hour, unless otherwise posted or directed.
• Swimming Restricted - No person shall swim, wade or bathe in any park except at such times and at such places as the director may designate.