嘉(jia)定(ding)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)原名(ming)大山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),綿延(yan)8座山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頭(tou),主峰海拔(ba)112米。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)形似塔(ta),植(zhi)被條件一般。因山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上長(chang)期有草無(wu)林(lin)(lin),習稱“光頭(tou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)”。據(ju)《史記(ji)》記(ji)載(zai),嘉(jia)定(ding)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)為(wei)明代“塔(ta)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)墩堡”。清乾隆年(nian)(nian)(nian)間建(jian)村,為(wei)祈求興旺發(fa)達(da)改名(ming)達(da)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),民國以后化為(wei)大山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。1935年(nian)(nian)(nian)青(qing)島工務局(ju)編(bian)制的(de)《青(qing)島大都(dou)市發(fa)展計劃》,大山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)列為(wei)園(yuan)林(lin)(lin)區,曾在山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上種植(zhi)大片樹(shu)木。由于戰(zhan)亂(luan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)林(lin)(lin)遭砍(kan)伐。至建(jian)國前山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上樹(shu)木幾乎光禿(tu),水土流失(shi)嚴重。20世(shi)紀60年(nian)(nian)(nian)代,山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)下建(jian)成嘉(jia)定(ding)路,取(qu)名(ming)嘉(jia)定(ding)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。
建(jian)(jian)(jian)國后,20世紀(ji)50年(nian)(nian)代中(zhong)期開始植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)樹造林(lin),遍植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)黑(hei)松、刺槐,植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)被條(tiao)件有所改善。1984年(nian)(nian),市政府(fu)決(jue)定封山植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)樹建(jian)(jian)(jian)園。由(you)鐵道(dao)部(bu)四(si)方(fang)機車(che)車(che)輛(liang)(liang)工廠(chang)與(yu)(yu)青島(dao)(dao)化(hua)(hua)工設(she)計院根據市園林(lin)局(ju)的規(gui)劃方(fang)案設(she)計;由(you)鐵道(dao)部(bu)四(si)方(fang)機車(che)車(che)輛(liang)(liang)工廠(chang)、北(bei)海(hai)(hai)船廠(chang)、中(zhong)國人(ren)民(min)解放軍四(si)四(si)〇六工廠(chang)、黃海(hai)(hai)水產研究所、山東省海(hai)(hai)水養殖研究所、市化(hua)(hua)工石(shi)油工業(ye)公司、市交通局(ju)與(yu)(yu)市環保局(ju)集(ji)資承建(jian)(jian)(jian)。同年(nian)(nian)3月開工,建(jian)(jian)(jian)亭子3個(ge),花(hua)廊1個(ge);老年(nian)(nian)人(ren)活(huo)動室、兒(er)童活(huo)動室各(ge)1個(ge);園門2座、廁所2個(ge);雕(diao)塑1組、園林(lin)小景6處;修建(jian)(jian)(jian)車(che)行道(dao)5645米(mi),游(you)覽路(lu)3540米(mi),花(hua)崗石(shi)臺階路(lu)1400級;安裝石(shi)桌石(shi)凳40套,長條(tiao)石(shi)凳20條(tiao);修建(jian)(jian)(jian)簡(jian)易圍墻2000米(mi),總投資90.28萬(wan)元(yuan)(yuan),其(qi)中(zhong)單位集(ji)資61.57萬(wan)元(yuan)(yuan),政府(fu)補助28.71萬(wan)元(yuan)(yuan)(包(bao)括綠化(hua)(hua)用苗購置費15.3萬(wan)元(yuan)(yuan))。由(you)青島(dao)(dao)紡織(zhi)工學院、化(hua)(hua)工學院義務植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)樹2.8萬(wan)株。1986年(nian)(nian)7月6日,經青島(dao)(dao)市人(ren)民(min)政府(fu)命名為“嘉定山公園”。同年(nian)(nian)11月建(jian)(jian)(jian)成開放。
2008年7月底,北京(jing)奧運(yun)會前(qian)夕,以“中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)印·舞動(dong)的北京(jing)”為主題的大型(xing)山(shan)體奧運(yun)浮雕(diao)在嘉定山(shan)揭幕(mu)。該(gai)浮雕(diao)高(gao)25米,寬18米,6月29日(ri)開工,歷時一(yi)個(ge)月,投(tou)資50余萬元,依托(tuo)(tuo)山(shan)體自(zi)然風(feng)貌而建,碑文上雕(diao)刻(ke)著:“北京(jing)奧運(yun)青(qing)島(dao)(dao)揚帆二零零八中(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)夢(meng)圓(yuan)舉國(guo)共慶萬民同歡謹托(tuo)(tuo)銘刻(ke)志以永(yong)年”的字樣,是青(qing)島(dao)(dao)市較(jiao)大“中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)印”景(jing)(jing)觀(guan)雕(diao)塑。該(gai)雕(diao)塑與山(shan)林自(zi)然景(jing)(jing)色(se)渾然一(yi)體,周圍還配(pei)有(you)(you)射燈,具有(you)(you)夜景(jing)(jing)觀(guan)效果,立體性(xing)強,造型(xing)美觀(guan)、新穎,視覺(jue)效果好,由(you)于地勢較(jiao)高(gao),從前(qian)海一(yi)線的信號山(shan)等(deng)高(gao)處(chu)就(jiu)能看到這(zhe)個(ge)“中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)印”,成為嘉定山(shan)上又一(yi)亮麗風(feng)景(jing)(jing)。