{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/10.1-200.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/10.1-200.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/10.1-200.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/10.1-200.html"}],"law_id":60384,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60384,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200","catch_line":"Duties related to parks and outdoor recreation; additional powers","history":"1984, c. 739, \u00a7\u00a7 10-21.3:3, 10-21.3:5; 1988, c. 891; 1998, c. 780; 2004, c. 58.","full_text":"To facilitate and encourage the public use of parks and recreational areas, to further take advantage of the positive economic impact of outdoor recreational facilities to localities and the Commonwealth, to foster the upkeep and maintenance of such resources, and to provide additional means by which the Governor and the General Assembly may determine necessary general fund appropriations and the need for other funding measures, the Department shall establish and implement a long-range plan for acquisition, maintenance, improvement, protection and conservation for public use of those areas of the Commonwealth best adapted to the development of a comprehensive system of outdoor recreational facilities in all fields, including, but not limited to: parks, forests, camping grounds, fishing and hunting grounds, scenic areas, waters and highways, boat landings, beaches and other areas of public access to navigable waters. The Department shall have the power and duty to:\n\n1\n\nAdminister all funds available to the Department for carrying out the purposes of this chapter, and to disburse funds to any department, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority.2\n\nStudy and appraise on a continuing basis the outdoor recreational needs of the Commonwealth; assemble and disseminate information on outdoor recreation; and prepare, maintain and keep up-to-date a comprehensive plan for the development of outdoor recreational facilities of the Commonwealth.3\n\nEstablish and promote standards for outdoor recreational facilities; encourage and assist in the coordination of federal, state, and local recreational planning; aid and advise various state institutions in the use of existing state parks and similar recreational facilities; work with the appropriate state agencies to develop areas for multiple recreational use, including, but not limited to, traditional uses such as hunting, fishing, hiking, swimming, and boating.4\n\nStudy and develop plans and, upon request, provide assistance regarding the establishment and implementation of recreational programs for state institutions, agencies, commissions, boards, officers, political subdivisions, and park authorities.5\n\nAssist upon request any department, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority in planning outdoor recreational facilities in conformity with its respective powers and duties and encourage and assist in the coordination of federal, state and local recreational planning.6\n\nApply to any appropriate agency or officer of the United States for participation in or receipt of aid from any federal program respecting outdoor recreation, and in respect thereto, enter into contracts and agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof; keep financial and other records relating to contracts and agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof, and furnish appropriate officials and agencies of the United States reports and information necessary to enable the officials and agencies to perform their duties under federal programs respecting outdoor recreation.7\n\nAct either independently or jointly with any department, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority to carry out the Department’s powers and duties; and coordinate its activities with and represent the interests of the above entities having interests in the planning, maintenance, improvement, protection and conservation of outdoor recreation facilities.8\n\nDevelop a standard against which the public can determine the extent to which the Commonwealth is meeting park and recreational needs. The standard shall be based on park usage, population trends and densities, and outdoor recreational facility demands. The standard shall be expressed in terms of acres and facilities needed on a regional and a statewide level to serve existing and projected needs and conservation goals. In the comprehensive plan cited in subsection 2 of this section, the Department shall report on (i) the development of the standard; (ii) where the Commonwealth’s park system falls short of, meets or exceeds the standard; and (iii) the methodology used for determining clause (ii).","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":220845,"text":"To facilitate and encourage the public use of parks and recreational areas, to further take advantage of the positive economic impact of outdoor recreational facilities to localities and the Commonwealth, to foster the upkeep and maintenance of such resources, and to provide additional means by which the Governor and the General Assembly may determine necessary general fund appropriations and the need for other funding measures, the Department shall establish and implement a long-range plan for acquisition, maintenance, improvement, protection and conservation for public use of those areas of the Commonwealth best adapted to the development of a comprehensive system of outdoor recreational facilities in all fields, including, but not limited to: parks, forests, camping grounds, fishing and hunting grounds, scenic areas, waters and highways, boat landings, beaches and other areas of public access to navigable waters. The Department shall have the power and duty to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":220846,"text":"Administer all funds available to the Department for carrying out the purposes of this chapter, and to disburse funds to any department, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":220847,"text":"Study and appraise on a continuing basis the outdoor recreational needs of the Commonwealth; assemble and disseminate information on outdoor recreation; and prepare, maintain and keep up-to-date a comprehensive plan for the development of outdoor recreational facilities of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":220848,"text":"Establish and promote standards for outdoor recreational facilities; encourage and assist in the coordination of federal, state, and local recreational planning; aid and advise various state institutions in the use of existing state parks and similar recreational facilities; work with the appropriate state agencies to develop areas for multiple recreational use, including, but not limited to, traditional uses such as hunting, fishing, hiking, swimming, and boating.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":220849,"text":"Study and develop plans and, upon request, provide assistance regarding the establishment and implementation of recreational programs for state institutions, agencies, commissions, boards, officers, political subdivisions, and park authorities.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":220850,"text":"Assist upon request any department, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority in planning outdoor recreational facilities in conformity with its respective powers and duties and encourage and assist in the coordination of federal, state and local recreational planning.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":220851,"text":"Apply to any appropriate agency or officer of the United States for participation in or receipt of aid from any federal program respecting outdoor recreation, and in respect thereto, enter into contracts and agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof; keep financial and other records relating to contracts and agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof, and furnish appropriate officials and agencies of the United States reports and information necessary to enable the officials and agencies to perform their duties under federal programs respecting outdoor recreation.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":220852,"text":"Act either independently or jointly with any department, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority to carry out the Department’s powers and duties; and coordinate its activities with and represent the interests of the above entities having interests in the planning, maintenance, improvement, protection and conservation of outdoor recreation facilities.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":220853,"text":"Develop a standard against which the public can determine the extent to which the Commonwealth is meeting park and recreational needs. The standard shall be based on park usage, population trends and densities, and outdoor recreational facility demands. The standard shall be expressed in terms of acres and facilities needed on a regional and a statewide level to serve existing and projected needs and conservation goals. In the comprehensive plan cited in subsection 2 of this section, the Department shall report on (i) the development of the standard; (ii) where the Commonwealth’s park system falls short of, meets or exceeds the standard; and (iii) the methodology used for determining clause (ii).","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14736,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Parks","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14710,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:37","permalink":{"id":143615,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14736,"identifier":"1","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1","url":"\/10.1\/I\/2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14710,"edition_id":1,"name":"Parks and Recreation","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12893,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:27","permalink":{"id":143613,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14710,"identifier":"2","token":"10.1\/I\/2","url":"\/10.1\/I\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12893,"edition_id":1,"name":"Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12740,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":143315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12893,"identifier":"I","token":"10.1\/I","url":"\/10.1\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12740,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conservation","identifier":"10.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":143313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12740,"identifier":"10.1","token":"10.1","url":"\/10.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":60384,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200","catch_line":"Duties related to parks and outdoor recreation; additional powers","url":"\/10.1-200\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200","metadata":false},{"id":56518,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.01","catch_line":"Lyme disease signage","url":"\/10.1-200.01\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.01","metadata":false},{"id":82737,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.1","catch_line":"State park master planning","url":"\/10.1-200.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.1","metadata":false},{"id":65516,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.2","catch_line":"Littering in state parks; civil penalty","url":"\/10.1-200.2\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.2","metadata":false},{"id":64528,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.3","catch_line":"Admittance and parking in state parks; prohibitions; civil penalty","url":"\/10.1-200.3\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.3","metadata":false},{"id":80467,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-201","catch_line":"Acquisition of lands of scenic beauty, recreational utility or historical interest","url":"\/10.1-201\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-201","metadata":false},{"id":56447,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-202","catch_line":"Gifts, funds, and fees designated for state parks; establishment of funds","url":"\/10.1-202\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-202","metadata":false},{"id":58975,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-202.1","catch_line":"Golden Passport established; free entry into state parks","url":"\/10.1-202.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-202.1","metadata":false},{"id":71638,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-202.2","catch_line":"Disabled Veteran's Passport established; free entry into state parks and discounted services","url":"\/10.1-202.2\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-202.2","metadata":false},{"id":67571,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-202.3","catch_line":"Virginia National Guard Passport established; free entry into and parking at state parks","url":"\/10.1-202.3\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-202.3","metadata":false},{"id":64297,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-203","catch_line":"Establishment, protection and maintenance of Appalachian Trail","url":"\/10.1-203\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-203","metadata":false},{"id":87016,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-204","catch_line":"Statewide system of trails","url":"\/10.1-204\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-204","metadata":false},{"id":56839,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-204.1","catch_line":"(Expires January 1, 2027) State Trails Advisory Committee established; report","url":"\/10.1-204.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-204.1","metadata":false},{"id":80845,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-205","catch_line":"Management of False Cape State Park","url":"\/10.1-205\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-205","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":56518,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.01","catch_line":"Lyme disease signage","url":"\/10.1-200.01\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.01","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/10.1-200\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1984. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 739 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1984 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 891; in 1998, chapter 780<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 58<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":143617,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60384,"identifier":"10.1-200","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200","url":"\/10.1-200\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/10.1-200\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duties related to parks and outdoor recreation; additional powers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 10.1-200","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

To facilitate and encourage the public use of parks and recreational areas, to further take advantage of the positive economic impact of outdoor recreational facilities to localities and the Commonwealth, to foster the upkeep and maintenance of such resources, and to provide additional means by which the Governor and the General Assembly may determine necessary general fund appropriations and the need for other funding measures, the Department<\/span> shall establish and implement a long-range plan for acquisition, maintenance, improvement, protection and conservation for public use of those areas of the Commonwealth best adapted to the development of a comprehensive system of outdoor recreational facilities in all fields, including, but not limited to: parks, forests, camping grounds, fishing and hunting grounds, scenic areas, waters and highways, boat landings, beaches and other areas of public access to navigable waters. The Department<\/span> shall have the power and duty to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Administer all funds available to the Department<\/span> for carrying out the purposes of this chapter, and to disburse funds to any department<\/span>, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Study and appraise on a continuing basis the outdoor recreational needs of the Commonwealth; assemble and disseminate information on outdoor recreation; and prepare, maintain and keep up-to-date a comprehensive plan for the development of outdoor recreational facilities of the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Establish and promote standards for outdoor recreational facilities; encourage and assist in the coordination of federal, state, and local recreational planning; aid and advise various state institutions in the use of existing state parks and similar recreational facilities; work with the appropriate state agencies to develop areas for multiple recreational use, including, but not limited to, traditional uses such as hunting, fishing, hiking, swimming, and boating. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Study and develop plans and, upon request, provide assistance regarding the establishment and implementation of recreational programs for state institutions, agencies, commissions, boards, officers, political subdivisions, and park authorities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Assist upon request any department<\/span>, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority in planning outdoor recreational facilities in conformity with its respective powers and duties and encourage and assist in the coordination of federal, state and local recreational planning. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Apply to any appropriate agency or officer of the United States for participation in or receipt of aid from any federal program respecting outdoor recreation, and in respect thereto, enter into contracts<\/span> and agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof; keep financial and other records relating to contracts<\/span> and agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof, and furnish appropriate officials and agencies of the United States reports and information necessary to enable the officials and agencies to perform their duties under federal programs respecting outdoor recreation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Act either independently or jointly with any department<\/span>, commission, board, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or any park authority to carry out the Department<\/span>’s powers and duties; and coordinate its activities with and represent the interests of the above entities having interests in the planning, maintenance, improvement, protection and conservation of outdoor recreation facilities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Develop a standard against which the public can determine the extent to which the Commonwealth is meeting park and recreational needs. The standard shall be based on park usage, population trends and densities, and outdoor recreational facility demands. The standard shall be expressed in terms of acres and facilities needed on a regional and a statewide level to serve existing and projected needs and conservation goals. In the comprehensive plan cited in subsection 2 of this section, the Department<\/span> shall report on (i) the development of the standard; (ii) where the Commonwealth’s park system falls short of, meets or exceeds the standard; and (iii) the methodology used for determining clause (ii). <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTIES RELATED TO PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION; ADDITIONAL POWERS (\u00a7 10.1-200)\n\nTo facilitate and encourage the public use of parks and recreational areas, to\nfurther take advantage of the positive economic impact of outdoor recreational\nfacilities to localities and the Commonwealth, to foster the upkeep and\nmaintenance of such resources, and to provide additional means by which the\nGovernor and the General Assembly may determine necessary general fund\nappropriations and the need for other funding measures, the Department shall\nestablish and implement a long-range plan for acquisition, maintenance,\nimprovement, protection and conservation for public use of those areas of the\nCommonwealth best adapted to the development of a comprehensive system of\noutdoor recreational facilities in all fields, including, but not limited to:\nparks, forests, camping grounds, fishing and hunting grounds, scenic areas,\nwaters and highways, boat landings, beaches and other areas of public access to\nnavigable waters. The Department shall have the power and duty to:\n\n1. Administer all funds available to the Department for carrying out the\npurposes of this chapter, and to disburse funds to any department, commission,\nboard, agency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth, or any political\nsubdivision thereof or any park authority.\n\n2. Study and appraise on a continuing basis the outdoor recreational needs of\nthe Commonwealth; assemble and disseminate information on outdoor recreation;\nand prepare, maintain and keep up-to-date a comprehensive plan for the\ndevelopment of outdoor recreational facilities of the Commonwealth.\n\n3. Establish and promote standards for outdoor recreational facilities;\nencourage and assist in the coordination of federal, state, and local\nrecreational planning; aid and advise various state institutions in the use of\nexisting state parks and similar recreational facilities; work with the\nappropriate state agencies to develop areas for multiple recreational use,\nincluding, but not limited to, traditional uses such as hunting, fishing,\nhiking, swimming, and boating.\n\n4. Study and develop plans and, upon request, provide assistance regarding the\nestablishment and implementation of recreational programs for state\ninstitutions, agencies, commissions, boards, officers, political subdivisions,\nand park authorities.\n\n5. Assist upon request any department, commission, board, agency, officer or\ninstitution of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or any park\nauthority in planning outdoor recreational facilities in conformity with its\nrespective powers and duties and encourage and assist in the coordination of\nfederal, state and local recreational planning.\n\n6. Apply to any appropriate agency or officer of the United States for\nparticipation in or receipt of aid from any federal program respecting outdoor\nrecreation, and in respect thereto, enter into contracts and agreements with the\nUnited States or any appropriate agency thereof; keep financial and other\nrecords relating to contracts and agreements with the United States or any\nappropriate agency thereof, and furnish appropriate officials and agencies of\nthe United States reports and information necessary to enable the officials and\nagencies to perform their duties under federal programs respecting outdoor\nrecreation.\n\n7. Act either independently or jointly with any department, commission, board,\nagency, officer or institution of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision\nthereof or any park authority to carry out the Department’s powers and\nduties; and coordinate its activities with and represent the interests of the\nabove entities having interests in the planning, maintenance, improvement,\nprotection and conservation of outdoor recreation facilities.\n\n8. Develop a standard against which the public can determine the extent to which\nthe Commonwealth is meeting park and recreational needs. The standard shall be\nbased on park usage, population trends and densities, and outdoor recreational\nfacility demands. The standard shall be expressed in terms of acres and\nfacilities needed on a regional and a statewide level to serve existing and\nprojected needs and conservation goals. In the comprehensive plan cited in\nsubsection 2 of this section, the Department shall report on (i) the development\nof the standard; (ii) where the Commonwealth’s park system falls short of,\nmeets or exceeds the standard; and (iii) the methodology used for determining\nclause (ii).\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 739, \u00a7\u00a7 10-21.3:3, 10-21.3:5; 1988, c. 891; 1998, c. 780;\n2004, c. 58.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}