US Army Corp of Engineers has engaged in a long range study of the feasibility of managing the storm risks associated with sea level rise in our area with any actual steps being fairly far in the future. Of the many possible projects under study, the Lynnhaven Surge Barrier has been identified by the USACE as the Early Actionable Element. Much more information to come and wider public engagement has been promised.

Listen to the presentation here.

Saturday brought a glorious afternoon for the Ocean Park Civic League Spring Picnic! Thank you to our volunteers for planning and staffing the event! Thank you to Taste Bayville for wonderful food and service! Thank you to our young singer from Ocean Park!

Our menu for the picnic: sandwich/wrap platter, potato salad, fruit salad, mac and cheese, chips, cookies and dessert bars! We will have peanut butter and jelly triangle sandwiches for the children! Picnic food is compliments of the Ocean Park Civic League. Wine and beer will be available for purchase. You can also sign up for a vegan or gluten free meal by Thursday, April 23.

Would you like to help out at the Spring Fling Picnic on the 25th of April? We needs some helpers to greet guests and hand out food tickets, sell raffle tickets and help out at the merchandise table. Meet your neighbors! Sign up HERE for a 45 min. shift! Thank You!

This is a OPCL members only event so pay your 2026 dues today! ( dues are current ONLY if paid since January 2026. Dues are by calendar year regardless of when you paid in 2025). All residents of Ocean Park are invited to become members of the civic league and join us on April 25th! Only $25 for the household!

Treasurer Shane Abell can help if you have a question about your membership! Contact him: treasurer@opcl.org

The Bayfront Advisory Commission met on April 16th at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. City Staff presented the following updates:

• The Comprehensive Plan will be considered by the City Council on April 23rd.
• The Planning Department liaison Hank Morrison solicited input from the Design Committee regarding scope of work for the upcoming work on the new Shore Drive Guidelines
• Public Works Deputy Director Katie Shannon noted that a major shift in traffic for the Phase III project will come on April 20th. She responded to concerns about tree cutting by Dominion Power which proceeded this year without input from the COVB. This falls under the purview of the Parks and Recreation Dept. In regards to Phase IV, there have been amendments to the Preliminary Engineering Plan which will be briefed soon to the Dept of Public Works and the project will shortly move to 30% design.
• The footings for the new electronic signs for the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp are in place, sign to follow shortly. The signs will say ‘open’ or ‘full’.

Public Works Project Update Spreadsheet for April:

Committee Reports:

• Design and Project Outlook Committee Chair Joe Bovee reviewed the Shore Drive Condo project and led a discussion of the project with regard to the Shore Drive Design Guidelines followed. The project is likely to be on the June Planning Commission Agenda.
• Infrastructure Committee Chair Sandy Cohen attended a workshop on the Bikeshare Feasibility Study contributing to the discussion of local needs and priorities.
• Communication Committee Chair Morgan Ayers-Comegys related the the Shore Drive Business Coalition will meet Monday, April 20th at 3:30 pm at Hot Tuna. In addition, Westminster Canturbury will have an Open House for viewing the ships.
• Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Committee Chair Windy Crutchfield related that the weekly reports will resume May 1.
  

Project Briefing: Westminster Canterbury representatives gave a presentation on a plan to construct a parking garage. The plans were originally approved in 2008 but the project did not move forward. The change from the 2008 plan is an additional story: from two to three stories on the space where open parking lot is now. The goal is to provide enough parking so that surrounding neighborhoods will not be impacted: 346 more spaces. Tower expected finish is Nov. 2026. Noise mitigation: auger piles instead of driven/pounded piles and use of precast concrete.

Full details of the meeting can be found on the Bayfront Advisory Commission webpage in the minutes.

From Mary Faust, our Adopt A Spot Coordinator:

“Many thanks to our great volunteers today for a terrific job clearing the trash from an abandoned encampment. We had 25 volunteers and cleared an additional 45 lbs. from the rest of the preserve. Bay Benefactors members were here early and jumped right in! All of the following folks, many of whom are dedicated volunteers here, including OPCL board members Danny Murphy and Andrea Lindemann with her husband Tim! Mary Vail and Eleanor, Amy M., Jeff and Blair Horth Valdivieso with “Mayor” (who watched the table so I could go change because whew!, it was hotter than I’d expected!), Camden Rosado and Robert Mititelu, Ali Fortier, Ashley and “Levi”, and the incomparable Cindy Caskey, showed up and picked up! Even a trio of Germans (Karl, Krista and Horst) who just came for a walk took a bag and came back with some trash and glasses (I have them if they are yours!)! So, in the spirit of my new German friends, I’d like to say “Danke zu alles!”

“Danny Murphy, OPCL president made a few phone calls after the cleanup. By 8 PM, nearly half the pile and our orange bags had been picked up! Thanks Danny!”

April Meeting Slides

Huge Thanks to all the Volunteers who make this event happen! Thanks to our wonderful Easter Bunny! And to all our generous neighbors who donated candy, eggs, prizes, refreshments and time: egg stuffers and hiders we see you and all those who help set up and clean up!

Hello to new neighbors! We met lots of new families and welcome them!

Thanks again to Peyton at Beach Built on Shore Drive for serving as a donation collection point!