A. A locality 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 § 15.2-1800 for the aforesaid purposes.
In regard to its parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds, a locality may:
1. Fix, prescribe, and provide for the collection of fees for their use;
2. Levy and collect an annual tax upon all property in the locality subject to local taxation to pay, in whole or in part, the expenses incident to their maintenance and operation;
3. 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.
B. A locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of 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 locality 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 § 46.2-100, 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 locality 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 locality 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.
1997, c. 587; 2008, c. 381; 2018, cc. 720, 721.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 18 - Buildings, Monuments and Lands Generally
§ 15.2-1800. Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property
§ 15.2-1800.1. Tenancy in common with school board for certain property
§ 15.2-1800.2. Acquisition of real property near certain facilities
§ 15.2-1800.3. Sale of certain property by locality to adjoining landowners
§ 15.2-1801. Acquisition of real property near parks or other public property
§ 15.2-1803. Approval and acceptance of conveyances of real estate
§ 15.2-1804. Building by locality
§ 15.2-1805. Permitting visually handicapped persons to operate stands for sale of newspapers, etc.
§ 15.2-1806. Parks, recreation facilities, playgrounds, etc.
§ 15.2-1807. Recreation, etc., system; petition and election for establishment
§ 15.2-1808. Certain sports facilities
§ 15.2-1809.1. Liability of localities for the site of trails or waterways
§ 15.2-1810. Leasing land for swimming pool purposes
§ 15.2-1812. Memorials for war veterans
§ 15.2-1812.1. Action for damage to memorials for war veterans
§ 15.2-1813. Notice when public hearing required
§ 15.2-1814. Acquisition authorized by chapter declared to be for public use