Pleasure House Point Rules: No Off Leash Dogs or Motorized Vehicles!

Turtles are active! They are coming out of brumating in the mud (like hibernation). Dogs can harm the turtles. That is one reason it’s especially important at this time of year that folks follow the rules and keep their dogs on leash at Pleasure House Point. We love our beautiful Pleasure House Point Natural Area. People love it. Our pets love it. Wildlife loves it. Please follow the rules and keep dogs on a leash at all times. Some people mistakenly believe that dogs may be off leash in PHP if they are under the voice control of their owner which is currently the law on the beach. NOT at PHP. Dogs must be leashed all the time in the Natural Area, And of course clean up their waste!

0

It’s Here! What is Piling Day in Ocean Park?

Piling Day might be called the unofficial start of summer in Ocean Park usually in the beginning of May when the sun first sets over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge pilings and the season of beautiful sunsets over the bay waters begins. Folks gather in the evenings to see the beauty unfold.

These stunning photographs are contributed by Chris Giersch. Thank you Chris for sharing them!

0

Shore Drive Condo (Marlin Bay) Project: Questions and Answers at OPCL Meeting

At the Thursday May 7 meeting, we welcomed Carrie Bookholt, Deputy Director of Planning and Marchelle Coleman, Planning Evaluation Coordinator and Staff Planner for the Marlin Bay Project from the City of Virginia Beach Planning Department. They gave an overview of the Development Process and the Discretionary Approval Process. (see slides below) and answered questions about the Marlin Bay Project. The staff review process is not completed so they could not answer all the questions. The Staff Report and recommendations will be available the week before the Planning Commission hearing.

2026 May General MeetingDownload


The project will likely come before the Planning Commission June 10. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will make the ultimate decision when the project comes before them.

Everyone who would like to express concerns and opinions of the project are encouraged to write a letter to the Planning Commission (PlanningCommissioners@vbgov.com) and/ or speak at the June 10  meeting. Your input is welcome and important.

Ocean Park Civic League Member Meeting April 2026Download

Shore Drive Condo Project ( Marlin Bay)

Shore Dr Condos – Bayfront Advisory Commission – 2026-02-19Download
0

Shore Drive Condo (Marlin Bay) Project: Questions and Answers at May 7 OPCL Meeting 7 pm at OPVRS

At the Thursday May 7 meeting, we will welcome staff from the City of Virginia Beach Planning Department to answer questions about the proposed Shore Drive Condo project (Marlin Bay). So that the Planning Staff can provide the most complete answers, we have asked that questions be submitted by Monday so we can forward them. Additional questions will be taken from the floor if time allows. Zoom link to the meeting.

The project will likely come before the Planning Commission June 10. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will make the ultimate decision when the project comes before them.

Everyone who would like to express their concerns and opinions of the project are encouraged to write a letter to the Planning Commission (PlanningCommissioners@vbgov.com) and/ or speak at the June 10  meeting. Your input is welcome and important.

Ocean Park Civic League Member Meeting April 2026Download

Shore Drive Condo Project ( Marlin Bay)

Shore Dr Condos – Bayfront Advisory Commission – 2026-02-19Download
0

⚓️ Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Report April 24-26

Overview: During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR). Reports from the Department of Parks and Recreation about the activity levels and events at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp are provided so that the community is aware of the numbers and what the Parks and Rec employees are seeing.

This is the weekly report for the weekend of April 24-26, 2026. Small craft advisory and colder temperatures appeared to be a deterrent. Total of 200 launches over the weekend.

Friday, April 24 –        84 total launches, car parking did not fill up there was available parking throughout the day. The overflow lot was not used. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.

Saturday, April 25 –    112 total launches, car parking did fill by 11:30am.  Barricade operations were not implemented. The overflow lot was not used. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.

Sunday, April 26 –       4 total launches, car parking was not full. The overflow was not used. Barricade operations were not needed. Small craft advisory, temperatures, and wind created a poor day for the beach and boating.

Incidents to report:

Sunday April 26 – Around 7pm, there was around 25-35 people on the beach playing music that was audible from the office. Due to a light rain, they were all directly under the bridge. Staff approached two people in the group that had parked in the trailer lot around 7:40pm and asked them to park in the car lot and staff described the two people as respectful and polite. They weren’t causing any issues for staff or patrons and were receptive to staff telling them to stay out of the trailer lot and to let their buddies know. Staff saw the group under the bridge and said they didn’t see anything that required any notification to Supervisor or police.  A citizen that was walking her dog approached staff and inquired about the gathering shortly after but wasn’t complaining, seemed more intrigued than anything. Staff had zero problems from the group and communicated with security guard when the shift change occurred. No reports from the security guard that any issues arose that evening. After reviewing the camera footage on Monday morning, it appeared the crowd may have grown to about 35-40 and there were some speakers visible in the footage. The beach was clear by about 830pm. 

New staff hours beginning this weekend for the remainder of summer:

May 2 – May 22       5:30am – 8:30pm

May 23 – Sept 4       5:30am –9:00pm

0

USACE Recommends Early Actionable Element: Lynnhaven Inlet Surge Barrier

Link to full presentation here

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.

0

🌷Spring Fling 🧺Picnic

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!

We had great music this year from neighborhood musicians! Thank you to Kate Beba and Sami Gardner! And thank you to our DJ Dave Hettinger!

Sami Gardner
0

Three Days until the Ocean Park Civic League Membership 🌷Spring Fling Picnic 🧺 is April 25th at 🐄 TASTE 😋!

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

Spring Fling from the past!
Link to pay 2026 Dues!
0

⚓️ Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Report April 17-20

Overview: During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR). Reports from the Department of Parks and Recreation about the activity levels and events at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp are provided so that the community is aware of the numbers and what the Parks and Rec employees are seeing.

This is the first weekly report for the 2026 season from Mike Parkman, Parks and Recreation Supervisor

Friday, April 17 –        92 total launches, car parking did not fill up there was available parking throughout the day. The overflow lot was not used. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.

Saturday, April 18 –    151 total launches, car parking did fill.  Barricade operations were implemented beginning at 11:05 am and ended around 1:20pm. The existing 4 boat ramp full signs were changed to full; we put the 6 additional neighborhood signs out. The overflow lot was not used due to the sand haul operations making the site unusable for parking. We anticipate this being an issue on future weekends as well.

Sunday, April 20 –       3 total launches, car parking was not full. The overflow was not used. Barricade operations were not needed. Small craft advisory, temperatures, and wind created a poor day for the beach and boating.

Parking – Meters went active April 1.

Incidents to report:

  • On the evening of Friday, April 17th, 2026, a significant number of individuals, primarily college and high school-aged, began showing up at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp. Security was on post, regular vehicle parking areas were near full capacity, and the boat and trailer parking section was more than half occupied with trailers. Security was dealing with the parking demand that was quickly exceeding capacity, resulting in increased attempts by standard vehicles to utilize the restricted boat and trailer parking area. Elevated vehicle and foot traffic was observed in the adjacent beach area throughout the evening. At approximately 8:30 PM, I, Mike Parkman, stopped by the boat ramp just to check on things since I was in the area. I spoke to security and decision was made to contact Virginia Beach non-emergency dispatch and the Real Time Crime Center to advise them of the developing conditions. I also spoke directly to Lt. Kosmas from the 3rd precinct. At approximately 9:00 PM, multiple Virginia Beach Police Department units arrived on scene and established a visible presence in the area. Additional units arrived shortly thereafter, increasing law enforcement visibility and resulted in the gradual dispersal of the crowd by approximately 10:00 PM. No incidents of note were reported, and conditions returned to normal operations for the remainder of the night.
  • No additional issues on Saturday or Sunday evenings.
0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑