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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58354</law_id><section_number>15.2-1806</section_number><catch_line>Parks, recreation facilities, playgrounds, etc</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-1809.1</reference><reference>8.01-226.13</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="18">Buildings, Monuments and Lands Generally</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Parks, Recreation Facilities and Playgrounds</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may establish parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds; set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it; and acquire land, buildings and other facilities pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property" href="/15.2-1800/">15.2-1800</a> for the aforesaid purposes.
			In regard to its parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds, a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may: <a id="paragraph-213712" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1806/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Fix, prescribe, and provide for the collection of fees for their use; <a id="paragraph-213713" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1806/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> <span class="dictionary">Levy</span> and collect an annual tax upon all property in the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> subject to local taxation to pay, in whole or in part, the expenses incident to their maintenance and operation; <a id="paragraph-213714" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1806/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Operate their use through a department or bureau of recreation or delegate the operation thereof to a recreation board created by it, to a school board, or any other appropriate existing board or commission. <a id="paragraph-213715" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1806/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of walking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it. A <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of trails for all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, or both, as those terms are defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-100/">46.2-100</a>, and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses, easements, leases, or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it. A <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of boating, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing activities on waterways and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it.
			In furtherance of the purposes of this subsection, a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may provide for the protection of persons whose property interests, or personal liability, may be related to or affected by the use of such trails or waterways. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the use and enjoyment of private property. <a id="paragraph-213716" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1806/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 587; 2008, c. 381; 2018, cc. 720, 721; 2023, cc. 131, 132.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
