                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DUTIES RELATED TO PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION; ADDITIONAL POWERS (§ 10.1-200)

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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&#8217;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. 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&#8217;s park system falls short of,
meets or exceeds the standard; and (iii) the methodology used for determining
clause (ii).

HISTORY: 1984, c. 739, §§ 10-21.3:3, 10-21.3:5; 1988, c. 891; 1998, c. 780;
2004, c. 58.