Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Encyclopedia
The Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (also known as Newport News Parks) is the government agency responsible for maintaining city parks and other sites of interest to tourists and the general population within the city of Newport News, Virginia
. It is under the authority of Assistant City Manager
Alan Archer. The Director of Newport News Parks is Michael Poplawski.
, is 8,065 acres (33 km²), the second-largest city park in the United States. The parks are scattered throughout the city, from Endview Plantation
in the northern end of the city to King-Lincoln Park
in the southern end near the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
. The parks offer a variety of services to visitors, ranging from traditional park services like camping
and fishing
to activities like archery
and disc golf
.
See List of parks in Newport News, Virginia
All of these historic sites (with the exception of the Victory Arch) were significant during the Peninsula Campaign
of the American Civil War
in 1862.
The department runs youth leagues for basketball
, American football
, soccer, indoor field hockey
, and wrestling
. Leagues are also run for adults in basketball, flag football
, softball
, table tennis
, and volleyball
.
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
. It is under the authority of Assistant City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
Alan Archer. The Director of Newport News Parks is Michael Poplawski.
Parks
Newport News Parks is responsible for the maintenance of thirty-two city parks. The smallest is less than half an acre (2,000 m²). The largest, Newport News ParkNewport News Park
Newport News Park, located in Newport News, Virginia, is the largest park in the system of municipal parks maintained by the Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. At 8,065 acres , it is one of largest city-run parks in the United States...
, is 8,065 acres (33 km²), the second-largest city park in the United States. The parks are scattered throughout the city, from Endview Plantation
Endview Plantation
Endview Plantation is a 17th century plantation which is currently located on Virginia State Route 238 in the Lee Hall community in the northwestern area of the independent city of Newport News, Virginia....
in the northern end of the city to King-Lincoln Park
King-Lincoln Park
King-Lincoln Park is an 18.8 acre park in Newport News, Virginia. It is maintained by the Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.-Location:...
in the southern end near the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel is the 4.6 mile-long Hampton Roads crossing for Interstate 664 in the southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States...
. The parks offer a variety of services to visitors, ranging from traditional park services like camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
to activities like archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
and disc golf
Disc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
.
See List of parks in Newport News, Virginia
Historic sites
Newport News Parks maintains eight historic sites within the city. Four of these are located within parks.- Battle of Dam #1, located in Newport News ParkNewport News ParkNewport News Park, located in Newport News, Virginia, is the largest park in the system of municipal parks maintained by the Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. At 8,065 acres , it is one of largest city-run parks in the United States...
- Battle of Lee's Mill, located in Lee's Mill Park
- Congress and Cumberland Overlook, located in Christopher Newport Park
- Monitor-Merrimac Overlook, located in Anderson Park
- Skiffe's Creek Redoubt
- Warwick Court House
- Newport News Victory ArchNewport News Victory ArchThe Newport News Victory Arch is a monument in Newport News, Virginia, erected first in 1919 and then rebuilt in 1962. The Victory Arch was established as a memorial to those who served in the American armed forces during periods of war. It is located on 25th Street and West Avenue in downtown...
- Young's Mill
All of these historic sites (with the exception of the Victory Arch) were significant during the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1862.
Museums
Five museums are run by the department:- Endview Plantation, located in Newport News ParkNewport News ParkNewport News Park, located in Newport News, Virginia, is the largest park in the system of municipal parks maintained by the Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. At 8,065 acres , it is one of largest city-run parks in the United States...
- Lee Hall Mansion
- Lee Hall Train Depot
- Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center
- Virginia War MuseumVirginia War MuseumThe Virginia War Museum is located in Huntington Park on Warwick Blvd., Newport News, Virginia. The museum contains exhibits on American military history from 1775 to the present.-History:...
- Mariners' MuseumMariners' MuseumThe Mariners' Museum is located in Newport News, Virginia. It is one of the largest maritime museums in the world as well as being the largest in North America.- History :The museum was founded in 1932 by Archer Milton Huntington, son of Collis P...
Sports programs and community centers
Newport News Parks runs eight sports facilities and community centers in the city for use by city residents.- Achievable Dream Tennis Center
- Brittingham-Midtown Community Center
- Deer Run Golf Course
- Doris Miller Recreation Center
- Huntington Park Tennis Center
- Riverview Gymnastics Center
- Stoney Run Athletics Center
- Warwick Recreation Center
The department runs youth leagues for basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, soccer, indoor field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
. Leagues are also run for adults in basketball, flag football
Flag football
Flag football is a version of Canadian football or American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game , but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end...
, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
.