Chesterfield Celebrates Summer Growth with Park Opening and School Progress
TL;DR: Chesterfield County marked major infrastructure milestones this week with the opening of The Park at River City Sportsplex's splash pad and dual groundbreaking ceremonies for a new Fire Station 1 and a topping-out celebration for West Ridge High School, all funded by voter-approved 2022 bonds.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield County leaders, residents, school board members, county administrators
- What: Grand opening of The Park at River City Sportsplex splash pad; groundbreaking for new Chester Fire Station 1; topping-out ceremony for West Ridge High School construction
- When: June 16-17, 2026 (ceremonies); splash pad open daily dawn to dusk; fire station opening TBD; high school opening August 2027
- Where: The Park at River City Sportsplex (13030 Genito Road); Chester Fire Station 1 (off Route 1 and Old Hundred Road); West Ridge High School (Duval Road, Matoaca District)
The story
Chesterfield County residents celebrated three major infrastructure accomplishments this week, marking substantial progress on a $540 million community facilities bond approved by voters in November 2022. The county's first splash pad, the centerpiece of The Park at River City Sportsplex, officially opened this week at 13030 Genito Road. The 2,000-square-foot spray park features three distinct zones designed for different ages and abilities, alongside a rope course, zipline, accessible climbing structure shaped like a great blue heron, game spaces, fitness equipment, trails, and picnic areas. The entire park project represents a $17 million investment in transforming the River City Sportsplex into a recreational hub for the region.
On Wednesday morning, June 17, 2026, Chesterfield County leaders and residents gathered for the groundbreaking of the new Chester Fire Station 1, a replacement facility that will modernize emergency services in one of the county's busiest fire districts. The current station, built in 1964 as a volunteer facility, was not designed for the 24-hour operations it now sustains. In 2025, Fire Station 1 responded to more than 4,000 emergency calls despite being located half a mile away on Route 10. The new $12.3 million facility, situated off Route 1 and Old Hundred Road, will be purpose-built for round-the-clock staffing and designed to be expandable and accommodate any vehicle in the county's emergency fleet. Firefighters will benefit from safer and healthier living conditions during their 24-hour shifts in the modern facility.
The third milestone came Tuesday, June 16, when school board members, county administrators, and construction workers gathered at West Ridge High School for a "topping-out" ceremony, marking completion of the structural frame for the county's first new high school in two decades. The $196 million, 340,000-square-foot facility on Duval Road in the Matoaca District will accommodate 2,400 students and features a 3,500-seat stadium, career and technical education classrooms, and specialized special education spaces. Principal Elizabeth Baber spoke at the event about the significance of the new facility. The school is scheduled to open its doors to students in August 2027, joining the west area's growing educational infrastructure that includes Deep Creek Middle School and an upcoming elementary school.
All three projects trace their funding to the 2022 bond referendum, which authorized $540 million in general obligation bonds for schools, public safety, parks, and libraries. The referendum reflected voter confidence in county growth management and infrastructure investment, with West Ridge High School representing one of the most visible components of a comprehensive education and public safety modernization across Chesterfield.
Key players
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: Approved and authorized the 2022 bond referendum projects
- Chesterfield County Public Schools: Operating West Ridge High School, beneficiary of $375 million in bond funding
- Chesterfield County Fire and EMS: Moving to new Chester Fire Station 1
- Elizabeth Baber: Principal of West Ridge High School
- Stantec: Architecture firm designing West Ridge High School
- Gulf Seaboard: Construction contractor for West Ridge High School
Key dates
- 2022-11-08: Voters approved $540 million Community Facilities Bond Plan
- 2026-06-16: Topping-out ceremony for West Ridge High School
- 2026-06-17: Groundbreaking ceremony for new Chester Fire Station 1
- 2026-06: The Park at River City Sportsplex splash pad opens
- 2027-08: West Ridge High School scheduled to open to students
The case for
These projects represent strategic investments in public facilities serving a growing, built-up county. The new fire station addresses documented operational strain (4,000+ annual calls from a 1964 volunteer-era facility), the splash pad provides free, family-friendly recreation at an existing sports complex, and West Ridge High School addresses capacity needs in a booming western corridor. All were voter-approved and funded via bonds, shifting the capital burden across multiple years rather than spiking current tax rates. The high school, in particular, signals long-term confidence in the county's growth trajectory and reduces overcrowding at existing schools.
The case against
The $540 million bond package represents a significant long-term debt obligation for taxpayers, and residents will service it through higher taxes for decades even as priorities and demographic needs shift. The splash pad, while free to use, required capital expenditure at an existing sports complex rather than maintenance of established amenities. The new fire station and school openings will also incur ongoing operational costs (staffing, utilities, maintenance) that add to the county budget, and some taxpayers may question whether all three projects represent the best use of limited dollars or whether phasing them differently could have reduced debt burden.
Why it matters: For residents, these projects translate into immediate tangible benefits: a new free recreational amenity, faster emergency response capacity in a high-demand district, and a new high school that reduces crowding and provides modern facilities for thousands of students. The completion of these infrastructure milestones also signals that the county's ambitious 2022 voter mandate is being executed on timeline, potentially building confidence in future bond proposals and the county's ability to manage growth.
Places
- The Park at River City Sportsplex
- River City Sportsplex
- Chester Fire Station 1
- West Ridge High School
- Deep Creek Middle School
- Matoaca District
- Genito Road
- Duval Road
- Route 1
- Old Hundred Road
- Route 360
Development timeline
- 2022-11-08Community Facilities Bond Plan approved by voters: Chesterfield County voters authorized $540 million in general obligation bonds for schools, public safety, libraries, parks, and recreation projects across the county [[source]](https://www.chesterfield.gov/5004/Bond-Referendums)
- 2026-06-16West Ridge High School topping-out ceremony: County leaders and school board members gathered to celebrate the placement of the final structural beam, a construction milestone for the first new high school in 20 years, scheduled to open August 2027 [[source]](https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/chesterfield-community-tops-off-construction-milestone-at-west-ridge-high/)
- 2026-06-17Chester Fire Station 1 groundbreaking: County leaders and residents held a groundbreaking for the new $12.3 million fire station that will replace the current 64-year-old facility struggling with 4,000+ annual calls [[source]](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/new-fire-station-1-june-17-2026)
- 2026-06The Park at River City Sportsplex opens: Chesterfield County's first splash pad opens at River City Sportsplex, featuring a 2,000-square-foot spray park, rope course, zipline, accessible climbing structure, and recreational amenities, funded by the 2022 bond referendum [[source]](https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/10/chesterfield-splash-pad-river-city-sportsplex-park)
Related links
- Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation
- 2022 Community Facilities Bond Plan Overview
- Chesterfield County Public Schools
- River City Sportsplex Alerts and Updates
Read the original at Chesterfield County (YouTube) →
Sources
- Chesterfield debuts free park with splash pad (Axios Richmond)
- Construction of new Fire Station 1 in Chester underway, will replace 64-year-old facility (WTVR)
- Chesterfield community 'tops off' construction milestone at West Ridge High (WRIC ABC 8News)
- Bond Referendums (Chesterfield County, VA)
- River City Sportsplex - The Park (Timmons Group)