Direction of Parks & Rec in James City Hinges on Robust Plan to Gather Public Input
Online and mailed surveys, community meetings among methods being used to help direct priorities over next decade
James City County is asking residents to share their ideas for the future of local parks, programs, and public spaces as part of its 2026 Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The plan will guide investments and improvements to parks, trails, facilities, and recreational programming for the next ten years. The County states that the goal of the process is to ensure that services remain responsive to needs across the community.
The County allocated $10.1 million from the General Fund for Parks and Recreation operations in its latest budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The actual expenditures on parks and rec operations for FY2024 were $8.4 million. The County’s budget for FY2026 includes $3.4 million for capital expenditures related to parks and rec. The actual amount spent in 2024 for parks and rec capital improvements was $1.4 million.
The County has enlisted BerryDunn, which they identify as a “nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in parks, recreation, and open space planning.” The firm touts extensive experience working with local governments across the country to develop data-driven, community-centered recreation plans.
The master plan update kicked off in July 2025 with the selection of BerryDunn and the plan is expected to be completed by summer 2026. Community input will be analyzed this winter, with a final master plan presented in summer 2026.
Opportunities for input
The County has outlined a multi-faceted process to gather input from residents, including a slate of stakeholder meetings, both online and mailed surveys, as well as pop-up engagement events.
Community meetings
Residents can share their feedback in person at the following sessions, all scheduled from 6:30–8 p.m.
Thursday, November 6 – James River Elementary School (Cafeteria)
Thursday, November 13 – James City County Recreation Center (Rooms A & B)
Wednesday, November 19 – James City County Library (Large Meeting Room)
Online engagement
Residents can also visit a website manage by BerryDunn called Social Pinpoint, an interactive hub that allows users to provide input in multiple ways.
The site’s Interactive Map allows residents to identify specific parks or facilities for improvement.
An Ideas Wall gives residents a chance to post suggestions. Early posts on the idea wall have already highlighted several priorities: calls for lighted pickleball courts, expanded community gardening programs, and improved bike and pedestrian connectivity.
Residents are also able to rank spending priorities through an interactive budget tool. So far, options such as “Add more bike and pedestrian pathways” and “Preserve natural areas” and “Improve parks and outdoor recreation facilities” have received the most support.
Mailed survey or in-person
A mailed community survey will be distributed by the end of October, offering residents a chance to share detailed input on programs and facilities. A “listening station” is also available at the James City County Recreation Center (5301 Longhill Rd.) through November 15, where visitors can complete comment cards in person.
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