Parks & Recreation

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Our Mission

The mission of the Dinwiddie County Parks and Recreation Department is to provide safe, clean, ever improving facilities while offering diverse year round leisure and recreational opportunities for all demographics which enhance the physical, social, emotional well being and quality of life for all residents of Dinwiddie County.

COVID-19 Information

The Parks and Recreation Department is committed to continuing to provide safe and fun recreational opportunities amidst the Coronovirus Pandemic. At this time the Parks and Recreation Department has opted to conduct low risk activites in all program areas to include our cultural and athletic program offerings. We are excited about the activities and amenities that we are able to offer, which are listed below. Come and join us as we continue to find safe ways to play in Dinwiddie County!

Concerning youth athletics, the department will be unable to provide football, soccer, basketball and wrestling programs for the fall/winter seasons. We are continuing to evaluate our ability to conduct athletic leagues starting in January 2021. Continue to check with us for league, athletic clinic, and programming updates as we transition through the winter season.

Upcoming Programs and Events


Athletic Programming:

Current Offerings

  • Open Pickleball Play every Monday and Wednesday from 6pm-8pm at the McKenney Gymnasium
  • Athletic Field usage and rentals by reservation at the Sports Complex (Limited Spectators)
  • Athletic Clinic Series (Winter 2020 and Spring 2021)
  • Youth Athletic Season Schedule (Updated November 2020)

In accordance with the VHSL guidelines for high infection risk activities, the Parks and Recreation Department will not permit usage or rental of County athletic field space or facilities for any activities considered high infection risk.

High Infection Risk Activities are those that involve close, sustained contact between participants, lack of significant protective barriers and high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between participants.

Infection Risk Activities - Rankings Chart*

  • Low Risk: Cross County, Track & Field, Swimming, Golf, Tennis
  • Moderate Risk: Volleyball, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, Baseball, Softball, Basketball
  • High Risk: Football, Wrestling, Lacrosse, Competition Cheerleading, Soccer

*Chart derived from 6-19-20 VHSL press release. Soccer was re-evaluated and re-categorized as a high infection risk activity in July of 2020 by the NCAA and VHSL.

Community Centers:

Current Hours

  • Eastside Community Enhancement Center
    • Monday - Friday 11:00am - 7:00pm
    • Open Amenities: Main Offices, Exercise Rooms, Lounge Areas, Facility Rentals, Outside Athletic Fields, Playground, Picnic Shelter
  •  Robert and Betty Ragsdale Community Center 
    • Monday - Friday 11:00 am - 7:00pm
  • Sports Complex
    • Monday - Saturday 1:00pm-9:00pm
    • Concession Stand (limited operations based on schedule)
  • Historic Dinwiddie Courthouse (outside courtyard area only for private rentals)
    • Monday - Friday 11:00am - 7:00pm 

Cultural Programming:

Current Offerings

  • Karate
  • Yoga
  • General Fitness Classes
  • Pop Line Dance

Please contact the department for social distancing requirements.

ARLS Library:

Curbside book pick-up available at all ARLS Dinwiddie Library Locations


Virtual Learning: The Dinwiddie County Department of Parks and Recreation has established space in the Eastside Community Enhancement Center and the Robert & Betty Ragsdale Community Center where families can safely participate in virtual learning. Please see the Public Service Announcement for more information. 


Leave a Legacy Donation Program - Thank you for your interest in donating to the Robert and Betty Ragsdale Community Center. Your selfless donation will help enhance the community center’s amenities. For donor markers, the center will feature a prominent wall display in the main foyer and each leaf will be inscribed with the donor name. Different colors of the metallic leaves will be used to demarcate the level of gift being recognized. The tree can grow over time to acknowledge new donors.

Leave a lasting legacy and make a difference!!!

Department Activities and Functions

The Dinwiddie County Parks and Recreation Department has set goals to provide high quality, enjoyable, accessible, and safe leisure opportunities which will enhance the quality of life for the residents of Dinwiddie County and the surrounding communities.

Our Athletics division strives to provide quality youth athletic programming to our citizens at an affordable cost. We offer many different girls and boys sports leagues, camps and tournaments, while providing top notch uniforms, and playing facilities. With the Dinwiddie County Sports Complex opening in the early summer of 2011, our young athletes play and compete on some of the best facilities in the state of Virginia, which has afforded us the option of opening even more diversified opportunities to our young athletes.

Our Cultural, Special Events and Tourism division strives to provide quality programming and special events to our diverse population of citizens in Dinwiddie County. This division strives to provide quality programming for toddlers, pre-schoolers, teens, adults and our active adult populations. In addition, the division takes the lead on such special events in the county including; the Dinwiddie County Fair, EGGstravaganza, Outdoor Movie Series, Celebrate the Season in Dinwiddie, and the Five Forks 5k. These events, while still young in their inception, draw a combined 25,000 people annually.

The County Public Works Department and the Parks Services division strives to provide the county with pristine recreational facilities. The Park Services division takes care of the Dinwiddie County Sports Complex and its turf management program. The division also oversees keeping the Eastside Community Enhancement Center, the Ragsdale Community Center, the McKenney Gymnasium and the Historic Dinwiddie Courthouse as top notch facilities as well. The division is also active in helping with setup and oversight of cleanliness of all special events such as tournaments, outdoor concerts, and the County Fair.