嘉定(ding)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)原名大(da)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),綿延8座(zuo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頭,主峰(feng)海拔112米。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)形似塔(ta),植被(bei)條件一般。因山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)(shang)長期(qi)有草無林(lin),習稱“光頭山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)”。據《史記(ji)》記(ji)載(zai),嘉定(ding)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)為(wei)(wei)明(ming)代“塔(ta)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)墩(dun)堡”。清乾隆年間建村,為(wei)(wei)祈求(qiu)興旺發達(da)改名達(da)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),民國(guo)以后(hou)化(hua)為(wei)(wei)大(da)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。1935年青島(dao)工務(wu)局(ju)編制的《青島(dao)大(da)都市(shi)發展計劃》,大(da)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)列(lie)為(wei)(wei)園林(lin)區,曾在山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)(shang)種(zhong)植大(da)片樹木(mu)。由于(yu)戰(zhan)亂山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)林(lin)遭砍伐。至建國(guo)前山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)(shang)樹木(mu)幾乎光禿,水土流失嚴重。20世紀60年代,山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)下建成嘉定(ding)路,取名嘉定(ding)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。
建(jian)(jian)(jian)國后,20世(shi)紀50年(nian)(nian)(nian)代中期(qi)開始植(zhi)(zhi)樹(shu)造林,遍植(zhi)(zhi)黑松、刺槐,植(zhi)(zhi)被條(tiao)件(jian)有所(suo)改善。1984年(nian)(nian)(nian),市(shi)(shi)政府(fu)決定封山植(zhi)(zhi)樹(shu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)園(yuan)(yuan)。由(you)鐵道(dao)部四方機車(che)車(che)輛工(gong)廠(chang)(chang)與(yu)(yu)青島化(hua)工(gong)設(she)計院(yuan)根據市(shi)(shi)園(yuan)(yuan)林局(ju)的規劃方案設(she)計;由(you)鐵道(dao)部四方機車(che)車(che)輛工(gong)廠(chang)(chang)、北(bei)海船(chuan)廠(chang)(chang)、中國人(ren)民(min)解放軍四四〇六工(gong)廠(chang)(chang)、黃海水產研(yan)究所(suo)、山東(dong)省海水養殖研(yan)究所(suo)、市(shi)(shi)化(hua)工(gong)石(shi)(shi)油工(gong)業公司、市(shi)(shi)交通局(ju)與(yu)(yu)市(shi)(shi)環保局(ju)集(ji)資承建(jian)(jian)(jian)。同年(nian)(nian)(nian)3月開工(gong),建(jian)(jian)(jian)亭子3個(ge),花廊(lang)1個(ge);老年(nian)(nian)(nian)人(ren)活動(dong)室(shi)、兒童(tong)活動(dong)室(shi)各(ge)1個(ge);園(yuan)(yuan)門2座、廁所(suo)2個(ge);雕塑1組、園(yuan)(yuan)林小(xiao)景6處(chu);修建(jian)(jian)(jian)車(che)行(xing)道(dao)5645米,游覽(lan)路(lu)3540米,花崗石(shi)(shi)臺階路(lu)1400級;安裝(zhuang)石(shi)(shi)桌石(shi)(shi)凳40套(tao),長條(tiao)石(shi)(shi)凳20條(tiao);修建(jian)(jian)(jian)簡易圍(wei)墻2000米,總投資90.28萬元(yuan)(yuan),其(qi)中單位集(ji)資61.57萬元(yuan)(yuan),政府(fu)補助28.71萬元(yuan)(yuan)(包括綠化(hua)用苗購置費15.3萬元(yuan)(yuan))。由(you)青島紡織工(gong)學(xue)院(yuan)、化(hua)工(gong)學(xue)院(yuan)義(yi)務植(zhi)(zhi)樹(shu)2.8萬株。1986年(nian)(nian)(nian)7月6日,經青島市(shi)(shi)人(ren)民(min)政府(fu)命名(ming)為“嘉(jia)定山公園(yuan)(yuan)”。同年(nian)(nian)(nian)11月建(jian)(jian)(jian)成開放。
2008年7月底,北京奧(ao)(ao)運會前夕,以“中國(guo)(guo)(guo)印(yin)(yin)·舞動的(de)北京”為主題(ti)的(de)大(da)型山體(ti)(ti)奧(ao)(ao)運浮雕在嘉定山揭幕。該(gai)浮雕高(gao)25米,寬18米,6月29日(ri)開工,歷時一(yi)個月,投資50余萬元,依托山體(ti)(ti)自(zi)然風(feng)貌而(er)建,碑文上(shang)雕刻著:“北京奧(ao)(ao)運青島(dao)揚(yang)帆(fan)二(er)零(ling)零(ling)八中華夢圓舉(ju)國(guo)(guo)(guo)共慶萬民同歡謹托銘(ming)刻志以永(yong)年”的(de)字樣,是青島(dao)市較(jiao)大(da)“中國(guo)(guo)(guo)印(yin)(yin)”景觀雕塑(su)。該(gai)雕塑(su)與(yu)山林自(zi)然景色渾然一(yi)體(ti)(ti),周圍(wei)還配有(you)射(she)燈,具有(you)夜景觀效(xiao)果(guo),立體(ti)(ti)性強,造(zao)型美觀、新穎(ying),視(shi)覺效(xiao)果(guo)好(hao),由(you)于地勢較(jiao)高(gao),從前海一(yi)線的(de)信號山等高(gao)處就(jiu)能(neng)看到這個“中國(guo)(guo)(guo)印(yin)(yin)”,成為嘉定山上(shang)又一(yi)亮(liang)麗風(feng)景。