Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism Master Plan

The City of Chesapeake wanted its parks master plan to explain the benefits residents receive from investing in the park system. As part of Interface Studio’s planning team, Radbridge assessed the economic contributions of park operations, capital improvements, and visitor spending. We also estimated the value residents receive from recreation beyond what they spend, potential healthcare savings from physical activity, and environmental benefits such as water filtration and flood reduction.

The City incorporated the analysis into its Path to Play master plan, adopted in February 2026. The plan highlights approximately $71 million in estimated annual recreation value and $27 million in estimated annual health benefits. The findings help staff explain how maintaining and improving parks supports community health, recreation, and economic activity, and provide economic evidence for future funding and investment decisions.