WASHINGTON — Federal lawmakers reintroduced the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act on April 17, 2025, aiming to place parts of the Chesapeake Bay under National Park Service oversight. Led by Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, alongside Maryland Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and others, the bipartisan legislation seeks to unify existing national park units, historic sites, and public lands in Virginia and Maryland under a coordinated management plan to boost conservation, public access, and local economies.
The proposed Chesapeake National Recreation Area would enhance tourism and protect the bay’s cultural and environmental significance. Potential sites include the North Beach of Fort Monroe in Hampton, among other historically significant properties that could opt into the network. The bill ensures participation is voluntary for landowners and prohibits the National Park Service from imposing new regulations on recreational or commercial activities in bay waters.
“The Chesapeake Bay is at the cultural heart of so many Virginia communities and serves as an economic driver for the commonwealth as a whole,” Warner said. “This will not only help to preserve the rich history of the bay but will ensure that it can be restored and protected for years to come.”
Kaine emphasized the bay’s role, stating it is “deeply embedded in the history, ecology, and economy of Virginia,” and the legislation will help future generations “cherish the beauty of the bay.”
“It is past time that we officially establish the Chesapeake National Recreation Area,” Alsobrooks said. “We know the Chesapeake Bay is the heart of Maryland but it is so much more — rich with history and wildlife, an economic driver for our state, and the home to our beloved blue crab.”
The initiative aligns with the bay’s economic impact. In 2023, Virginia’s national park visitors spent $1.55 billion, generating $2.78 billion in economic output and supporting over 21,100 jobs, per National Park Service data. Outdoor recreation contributed $13.4 billion to Virginia’s GDP in 2022, supporting 122,000 jobs. Supporters argue the recreation area could amplify these benefits for bay communities.
First introduced in 2023, the bill advanced through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee but stalled in the House. Lawmakers are optimistic about passing it in the current session, citing broad support for preserving the bay’s ecological and cultural heritage. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the U.S., supports diverse wildlife and industries like crabbing, which remain central to the region’s identity.
The legislation reflects ongoing efforts to balance conservation with economic growth, ensuring the bay remains a vital resource for future generations.
