The Challenge: Expanding Destination-Worthy Amenities Throughout the System

Located in the northern portion of Virginia’s Tidewater region, York County is home to more than 70,000 residents and has evolved from a historically agricultural economy into one supported by tourism, industry, and military installations.

With that transformation comes the need for action. Before the County decided which priorities were most important, its elected officials felt strongly that they should first hear from the community. Throughout several engagement events, York County residents steered staff and planners toward better-maintained parks, diverse attractions at current parks, and availability of parks and programs through their responses to a statistically valid survey.

While York County’s level of service for parkland and trails appeared to be slightly above the national median for park acreage per capita, its existing recreational amenities presented opportunities for improvement. The County has historically worked with its school system to provide recreational amenities for residents. While these facilities have helped meet community needs, access to school-based recreational facilities has become more limited nationwide due to operational and security considerations. Additionally, because these facilities can only be accessed by the public on weekends or holidays, they are less likely to serve visitors and tourists. This highlights the need for more community and destination-oriented recreation amenities within the County’s park system.

The need to expand and enhance recreational opportunities was also reflected in the County’s investment in its parks and recreation system. Although York County ranks above average in providing public services such as public safety and libraries, its parks and recreation spending is roughly 65% below the average investment of other local governments in the Virginia Peninsula.

Extensive public input, supplemented by level-of-service benchmarking and investment comparisons, helped shape a forward direction for making York County’s park system one that’s destination-worthy and accessible.

Our Solution: Customized Recommendations and Action Steps that Meet York County’s Recreational Needs

Based on research and honest conversations with York County residents, staff, and elected officials, McGill thoughtfully curated recommendations to make the County’s recreational assets more attractive.

Over the next decade, key decision makers will use action steps, broken down into immediate, short-range, mid-range, and long-range categories, to strengthen the parks and recreation system and keep track of progress. The associated Action Implementation Plan includes development priorities, recommended staffing, methods for creating facilities, and possible routes to funding.

An example is the revisioning of Charles Brown Park into a neighborhood park through the recommended addition of a splash pad, pickleball courts, and a new picnic shelter.

Some of York County’s action steps included:

• Immediate: These steps targeted the community’s desire for more maintenance by recommending the adoption of formal maintenance standards and a tiered care system. They also included the hiring of a maintenance manager and two maintenance staff members. Quick fixes like basketball court resurfacing, trimming vegetation, and refreshing wayfinding signage were also included as immediate action steps.
• Short-range: Priorities included enhancing existing parks and planning for future facilities through completion of site-specific plans for Back Creek Park, New Quarter Park, Wolf Trap Park, and Chisman Creek Park, along with conducting a feasibility study for a central recreation center and aquatics facility at Kiln Creek Park.
• Mid-range: This stage focuses heavily on turning current parks into destinations. Back Creek Park should receive upgrades to its boat launch, dog park, and internal trails, while New Quarter Park should be enhanced for environmental education and events. McGill recommended a feasibility study for New Quarter Park that would explore adding lodging and a café.
• Long-range: During this time, the County should focus on major systemwide initiatives, including the expansion of the County’s trail and greenway network, which should connect Yorktown, Back Creek, schools, and the East Coast Greenway spurs. Other enhancements include upgrades to lighting, wayfinding, and public Wi-Fi access at priority sites.

The Results

After nine months of data analysis and community engagement with McGill, the York County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the 2026–2036 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan on September 15.

During his presentation to the board, Ben Whitener, the County’s parks and recreation manager, noted the almost-daily communication and collaboration with McGill throughout the months-long process.
Whitener specifically touched on the revitalization of Charles Brown Park, which has been added to the Department’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

“We will be turning this small park into a neighborhood park,” Whitener said. “You will have different amenities that would bring different demographics, and it will meet multiple different needs, which is what we want to see.”