Adopted by Norfolk City Council in spring 2012, the Parks & Recreation Master Plan serves as a twenty-year guide for enhancements to Norfolk's park system and recreation amenities. Through research, citizen surveys and a needs assessment, it was determined that there are eight focus areas, or "sub-systems" for improvement:
Athletic fields
Bikeways and trails
Community and recreation centers
Community character
Operations and maintenance
Parks
Programs
Water access
These focus areas were grouped into an overarching vision to "Refresh, Reconnect and Refocus" Norfolk's recreation and park system. Implementation of the plan has begun and will continue contingent on funding sources and partnerships that become available throughout the next twenty years.