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 More than 20 Years Later, A Playground for Katie and Friends Begins a New Chapter
 In every community, there are places that hold more than just physical space – they hold stories, laughter, and a legacy of inclusion. Originally opened in 2003, A Playground for Katie and Friends has been one of Chesterfield's rare gems for more than 20 years.
What began over two decades ago as a pioneering effort by a local mother to create an accessible play space for both of her daughters grew into a multimillion-dollar community development project. Now, the beloved playground within Huguenot Park has been revitalized for a new generation to continue providing a thoughtful space that reflects community needs and advances in inclusive designs.
Community members, Parks and Recreation staff, and county leadership joined Katie and her family at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, April 21 to unveil the renovated playground. It was built with a clear vision: Play is a right, not a privilege.
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In the News
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Historic Eppington Hosting Shot Heard Round the World
Nearly 250 years ago, news of the Battle of Lexington and Concord rocked the colonies. Come out to Historic Eppington this Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. for a day of living history as we relive the moment Chesterfield debated its future: loyalty to the Crown or revolution for a new nation?
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 Express Lanes Now Open at Both Convenience Centers
Chesterfield has opened an express recycling lane at both the Northern Area Convenience Center, 3200 Warbro Road, and Southern Area Convenience Center, 6700 Landfill Drive. If you're only dropping off recyclable materials, use the express lane to bypass the payment line.
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 Board of Supervisors to Hold Monthly Meeting Wednesday
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors will convene on Wednesday, April 23, starting with a work session at 2 p.m. in Room 502 of the County Administration Building, 9901 Lori Road, then an evening session that begins at 6 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room, 10001 Iron Bridge Road.
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Take Survey on Master Plan for County Fairgrounds Site
As it evaluates potential improvements to the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds property, the county’s Parks and Recreation Department is seeking feedback from the community. Take an online survey by Monday, April 28 at 5 p.m. to provide public input on the draft Fairgrounds Master Plan.
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Farmers Market Seeking Vendors for 2025 Season
The Chesterfield County Farmers Market is currently accepting vendor applications for the 2025 season, which begins on Wednesday, May 7. The market is seeking growers, producers, fiber artists and culinary artists. Potential vendors must provide contact info and describe their business.
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 New Beulah Park Includes Region's First Cricket Pitch
County leaders held a ribbon-cutting last Thursday, April 17, for the first phase of the new Beulah Park, which includes the Richmond region's first regulation-size cricket pitch and two multipurpose fields, with lights and irrigation, along with a combination restroom/shelter and walking trail.
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Calling all sports enthusiasts and athletes! We are excited and proud to announce that nominations are open for the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Established last year, the Sports Hall of Fame pays tribute to athletic greats who have contributed to the county’s rich sports history and legacy.
To learn more about criteria and to nominate athletes, coaches, sports contributors, and teams, visit the Sports Hall of Fame web page. Nominations close Thursday, May 31 at 5 p.m.
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Upcoming Events
Child Safety Fair
Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m-2 p.m. at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds
Hosted by the Chesterfield Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, the third annual free event will feature more than 20 vendor booths in the Exhibition Hall with resources on how to keep children safe from infancy to adulthood. There will also be games, face painting, balloon art and free food.
ZOMod Community Meeting: Bermuda District
Monday, April 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Thomas Dale High School West Campus
Planning Department staff are hosting a series of community meetings this month to provide information about the county's Zoning Ordinance Modernization Project, or ZOMod, collect feedback about the current draft of the zoning ordinance rewrite and answer questions.
Chesterfield Triad Senior Day
Wednesday, April 30, 1-4 p.m. at Southside Church
The free annual event for Chesterfield's seniors begins with a keynote address by John Childrey, chief section counsel for the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Virginia Attorney General's Office. The resource fair opens at 1:45 p.m. with 50 vendors, door prizes and music.
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 Diaper Drive Shatters Record for Donations
We asked and the community delivered in a very big way!
Each March, the Chesterfield Annual Diaper Drive collects newly packaged baby and toddler diapers and wipes for children and families enrolled in its Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Families First and Infant and Toddler Connection of Chesterfield programs.
This year, we asked the community to dig deep and help us collect 55,000 diapers. Not only did we reach our goal, but we exceeded it – collecting a record haul of 63,972 diapers and 852 packages of wipes.
The collection record to beat was set in 2023, when the drive collected 58,917 diapers.
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Chesterfield Behind the Mic
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 On the latest episode of Chesterfield Behind the Mic, which drops tomorrow, we talk to Jennifer Patterson of Mental Health Support Services about her role as the county's Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) administrator and how a new campaign called Reigniting Hope seeks to reach those battling substance use and offer potential solutions on a path forward.
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Every Monday, This Week in Chesterfield points residents to fun, exciting and interesting things going on around their community.
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 Chesterfield Behind the Mic is an audio and video podcast focusing on the people, stories and happenings of #Cfield.
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 Subscribe to our Chesterfield on Point blog to stay informed about a variety of topics and events important to the community.
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Adoptable Pet Spotlight
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Say Hello to Arabella!
This sweet girl is a 2-year-old spayed female Domestic Shorthair and she weighs about 8lbs. Arabella came to us after her owner passed away. As I'm sure you can tell from her photos, yes, she is beautiful, but she is also a little shy. We know she'd love to be anywhere but here at the shelter and that's where you come in!
Arabella just needs a good home with people who will give her time to come out of her shell and be shown the love she deserves. We don't know much about Arabella, but we do know that she is sweet, is litterbox trained and lived in a home with several other cats as well as 3 small dogs.
If you are interested in meeting this pet, please contact Chesterfield County Animal Services at 804-748-1683, option "2," to schedule an appointment. Office staff are available by phone 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Our shelter is located at 9300 Public Works Road.
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Resources and Useful Information
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Parenting is hard, but Chesterfield County Mental Health Support Services offers resources to help, such as parenting classes, parent/family consultations and a class to raise awareness about the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Classes and consultations are both offered virtually and in-person.
If you are interested in a class or consultation or want class schedules and information, visit the county website. For questions, contact Prevention Services by email or call 804-768-7800.
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Get Accurate, Up-to-Date Information from Chesterfield Alert
Now is the time for residents to familiarize themselves with all of the different ways that Chesterfield County puts out emergency information.
One of those is Chesterfield Alert, an opt-in system that sends messages directly to you in the event of an emergency. This system can send out alerts via text, email, and phone call depending on how the subscriber chooses to receive the messages. Sign up today!
Click here to learn more about how you can get accurate, up-to-date information from Chesterfield in the event of an emergency.
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Request a Speaker Today!
Did you know your group or organization can request a speaker from the #Cfield Speakers Bureau? The Speakers Bureau features a variety of topics on current and timely subjects from county leaders who are eager to talk to your group or organization.
Our subject-matter experts want to be your best resource for getting answers to important questions about Chesterfield. Topics include:
✅ District update – Request your board member to speak
✅ Preparing for an emergency - Emergency Management
✅ Senior resources in Chesterfield - Office of Aging and Disability Resources
✅ Chesterfield Cooperative Extension - Master Gardeners
✅ So much more
Request a speaker online.
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Library of Things Unlocks Experiences at Salem Church MS
At Salem Church Middle, a new “Library of Things” is helping to change perceptions of what a school library experience can be. As a way to encourage students to creatively practice and learn new skills, the Library of Things pairs a how-to book with the necessary items to perform that skill. Students can check out a waffle maker, a crochet kit, a ukulele and more.
“Many public libraries include special items to check out for use,” said librarian Danielle Schafer. “I wanted to create a more dynamic collection and demonstrate to our students that a school library is more than just books.”
The Library of Things is but one way the Salem Church Middle School library emphasizes active learning. Students can also work on collaborative art projects, see a student-created “historical technology” exhibit that interprets ancient artifacts such as a cassette player, and watch a live wildlife cam featuring eagles from the National Parks. Learn more about the exciting initiatives at the Salem Church school library.
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Houses Spark Joy and Grow School Spirit Across Chesterfield
Schools across the county have embraced the house system as a way to build strong relationships and encourage good choices. Houses have different names, different emblems and different colors — but they all create spaces where students connect across grade levels, achieve common goals and make happy memories.
Houses support their students by encouraging them to do their best and celebrating their successes along the way. This video shows how houses spark joy and grow school spirit throughout Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Share Your Input on the 2025-28 CCPS Strategic Plan Update
The CCPS strategic plan “Imagine Tomorrow” is being updated for 2025-2028 and we want your input! The strategic plan is a guiding document that gives direction for our schools and administrative offices to align division-wide goals to most effectively educate our students and serve our communities. It provides a strong vision and long-term plan for the future of Chesterfield County Public Schools.
First: Review the proposed updates that were shared during the April 2025 School Board meeting.
Second: Give your input online through this short form.
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Explore career opportunities in Chesterfield and join our team of dedicated professionals in Government and Public Schools—apply today to shape our community’s future.
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Discover who represents you in Chesterfield and learn more about your magisterial district to stay connected and informed.
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