Event Cancelled Due to Weather!
⚓️ 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
USACE Recommends Early Actionable Element: Lynnhaven Inlet Surge Barrier
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.
🌷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!
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
⚓️ 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.
📝 Bayfront Advisory Commission Update
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.
🙏Thank you all! PHP 🌱Cleanup on Saturday April 12!
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!”
Ocean Park Civic League 