嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)定山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)原名(ming)大山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),綿延8座(zuo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頭(tou),主(zhu)峰海(hai)拔112米(mi)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)形似(si)塔(ta),植被條件一般。因山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)長期(qi)有草無(wu)林,習(xi)稱“光(guang)頭(tou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)”。據《史(shi)記(ji)》記(ji)載(zai),嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)定山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)為明代(dai)(dai)“塔(ta)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)墩堡”。清乾(qian)隆年間建村,為祈(qi)求興(xing)旺發達改名(ming)達山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),民(min)國以后化為大山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。1935年青(qing)島工務局編制的《青(qing)島大都市(shi)發展計劃》,大山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)列為園林區,曾(ceng)在山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)種植大片(pian)樹木。由(you)于(yu)戰亂山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)林遭砍(kan)伐。至建國前山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)樹木幾乎光(guang)禿,水土(tu)流失嚴重。20世紀60年代(dai)(dai),山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)下建成嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)定路,取(qu)名(ming)嘉(jia)(jia)(jia)定山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。
建國后,20世紀(ji)50年(nian)(nian)代中(zhong)(zhong)期開(kai)始植樹(shu)造(zao)林,遍(bian)植黑松、刺槐(huai),植被條(tiao)件有所改善(shan)。1984年(nian)(nian),市政(zheng)府(fu)決(jue)定封(feng)山植樹(shu)建園(yuan)(yuan)。由鐵道(dao)(dao)部(bu)四方機(ji)車(che)車(che)輛工(gong)(gong)(gong)廠與青(qing)(qing)島(dao)化(hua)工(gong)(gong)(gong)設(she)計院(yuan)(yuan)根據(ju)市園(yuan)(yuan)林局的規劃方案設(she)計;由鐵道(dao)(dao)部(bu)四方機(ji)車(che)車(che)輛工(gong)(gong)(gong)廠、北海(hai)(hai)船廠、中(zhong)(zhong)國人民解放軍四四〇六工(gong)(gong)(gong)廠、黃海(hai)(hai)水產研(yan)究所、山東(dong)省(sheng)海(hai)(hai)水養殖研(yan)究所、市化(hua)工(gong)(gong)(gong)石油工(gong)(gong)(gong)業公(gong)司(si)、市交通局與市環(huan)保局集(ji)(ji)資(zi)承建。同年(nian)(nian)3月開(kai)工(gong)(gong)(gong),建亭子3個(ge),花廊1個(ge);老年(nian)(nian)人活動室、兒童活動室各1個(ge);園(yuan)(yuan)門2座、廁所2個(ge);雕塑1組、園(yuan)(yuan)林小景6處;修(xiu)建車(che)行(xing)道(dao)(dao)5645米,游覽路3540米,花崗石臺階(jie)路1400級;安(an)裝石桌石凳40套,長條(tiao)石凳20條(tiao);修(xiu)建簡(jian)易(yi)圍墻2000米,總投資(zi)90.28萬元(yuan)(yuan),其中(zhong)(zhong)單(dan)位集(ji)(ji)資(zi)61.57萬元(yuan)(yuan),政(zheng)府(fu)補助28.71萬元(yuan)(yuan)(包括綠化(hua)用(yong)苗(miao)購(gou)置費(fei)15.3萬元(yuan)(yuan))。由青(qing)(qing)島(dao)紡織(zhi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)學院(yuan)(yuan)、化(hua)工(gong)(gong)(gong)學院(yuan)(yuan)義務植樹(shu)2.8萬株。1986年(nian)(nian)7月6日,經(jing)青(qing)(qing)島(dao)市人民政(zheng)府(fu)命名為“嘉定山公(gong)園(yuan)(yuan)”。同年(nian)(nian)11月建成(cheng)開(kai)放。
2008年7月(yue)底,北京(jing)奧運會前夕(xi),以“中國印(yin)(yin)·舞動(dong)的(de)(de)北京(jing)”為主(zhu)題(ti)的(de)(de)大型山體(ti)(ti)奧運浮(fu)雕(diao)在嘉定山揭幕。該(gai)浮(fu)雕(diao)高25米(mi),寬18米(mi),6月(yue)29日開工,歷時(shi)一個(ge)月(yue),投(tou)資50余萬(wan)元,依托(tuo)(tuo)山體(ti)(ti)自然風貌而建(jian),碑文上雕(diao)刻著:“北京(jing)奧運青島揚帆(fan)二零(ling)(ling)零(ling)(ling)八中華夢圓舉國共慶萬(wan)民(min)同歡謹托(tuo)(tuo)銘(ming)刻志以永年”的(de)(de)字樣,是青島市較(jiao)大“中國印(yin)(yin)”景觀雕(diao)塑(su)。該(gai)雕(diao)塑(su)與山林(lin)自然景色渾然一體(ti)(ti),周圍還配有(you)射(she)燈,具有(you)夜景觀效果,立體(ti)(ti)性強(qiang),造型美(mei)觀、新穎,視覺(jue)效果好,由于地勢較(jiao)高,從前海一線(xian)的(de)(de)信號山等高處就能看到這個(ge)“中國印(yin)(yin)”,成為嘉定山上又一亮(liang)麗風景。