City Seeks Community Input for New Park

By spring 2018, residents in the southwestern part of the city could see the early signs of a new park.

The city is beginning the planning process for a neighborhood park on the 5500 block of Lynnhaven Parkway near the Chesapeake border. Now that the parkway connects all the way into Chesapeake, there's an easy way to access the land that will become Woodbridge Park.

A public meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 8 at Tallwood High School. City staff will give a presentation and residents will work in groups to talk about preferred amenities.

Woodbridge Park will be a neighborhood park, meaning it will be smaller with only a few amenities. Neighborhood parks around the city might include a shelter or two, a playground and benches, said parks planner Dean Bowles.

Only about four acres of the land will be developed. The rest of the 20 acres will be left natural.

In the past, residents near the new park have expressed interest in a skate pad, a small piece of concrete for rails to practice skateboarding tricks, Bowles said. Residents have also suggested including basketball-like games that are accessible for people with physical disabilities.

After the meeting, staff can begin the design process. The city has set aside $400,000 for the park and construction could begin by spring 2018.

Virginia Beach's parks and recreation department has a goal of providing a park or open space within a 10-minute walk of all residents, according to a release.

City View Park, on Kempsville Road near Centerville Turnpike, is about 1.5 miles from the proposed site of Woodbridge Park and requires crossing Lynnhaven Parkway and traveling along Kempsville Road.