Our hearts go out to our neighbors in the Great Neck area. We are here for you and will do everything we can to help you rebuild. Please know that you are not alone and that we will stand with you every step of the way. Also, thank you to all the city first responders and volunteers that have assisted the community in beginning the long process of recovery. Please follow VB Gov and Councilman Chris Taylor to learn about supporting those affected.

UPDATE: President Danny Murphy received this update on Friday, May 5th: “We just confirmed to allow Salmons to work an abbreviated schedule for tomorrow, Saturday, May 6, 2023. The allowable work hours will be from 8:00am to 2:00pm. The contractor has been reminded to continue to adhere to all traffic control procedures at the sand stockpile site and the project site. All appropriate safety precautions will continue to be implemented to insure the public’s safety.”

Mr. Jim White, COVB Department of Public Works,  provided  answers to questions put by the Civic League which outline the potential impact on the Ocean Park neighborhood of the sand stockpile truck haul project from  the Lynnhaven Sand stockpile. Latest update from Mr. White: “Salmons stated that they anticipate averaging approximately 10 trucks per hour to come and go from the stockpile site to Cape Henry Beach.  The contract performance period is for 180 consecutive calendar days from the notice to proceed date of April 17^th, 2023.  There are no time of year restrictions imposed for this project.  Salmons project schedule has them completing all sand hauling efforts by late July 2023.  This completion date could change due to weather, equipment or other logistical issues.

Regarding work hours and days per week, the contractor is allowed to work between 7:30am and 4:30pm as per the City contract.  Salmons will be working these hours and will be allowed, if necessary, to extend the work hours to 7:00am to 5:00pm.  Should Salmons request to work on a Saturday, our office will take serious consideration as to how this request will affect the use of the Lynnhaven Municipal Boat Ramp and expected traffic along the Lesner Bridge corridor.  For example, Salmons will not be allowed to work the full Memorial Day weekend (i.e., Saturday through Monday) or on the July 4^th holiday.  However, if the weather forecast for a given Saturday is for a non-boating/non-beach day (i.e., due to rainy weather or rough seas), then we will consider allowing Salmons to work.”

Nothing can get Ocean Park folks down when they want to have a good time! In the face of very iffy weather- the neighborhood came out ( it was a good thing we moved it forward an hour though)! Great food – huge thanks to Taste Inc. and their wonderful manager Jordan and her team! Great music- kudos to Jakob Vanko! Huge thank you to all the volunteers who made it happen!

Since we got cut off by the rain at the end of our event, the drawing for the Trivia Contest prize will take place at the May 4th General Meeting at the Brock Center at 7:00 pm.

The Ocean Park Civic League is not associated with signs seen around Shore Dr. (Shore Drive Sucks) but has long advocated for the City to honor commitments it made in the 2007 CIP for Shore Drive Improvements and to honor those commitments NOW not in another 15 years. OPCL will continue to work toward this goal. What are these defunded improvements? Go to OPCL.org/Phase IV Long Promised West Shore Dr. Improvements

President Danny Murphy spoke to WTRK Channel 3 on Monday about the signs and defunding of Phase IV. “I think the defunding of the project gives us serious concerns with the leadership within the city and city council that they’re just going to pass aside all the promises and commitments that have been made over the years, to delay this project even further,” stated Danny Murphy, President of Ocean Park Civic League. “We would like continuous sidewalks, lighting, anything a modern roadway would bring,” Murphy explained. “We see it in the rest of the city, and they seem to be able to find dollars for various places, but it’s been 18 years and we still don’t have a shovel in the ground yet.” District 9 Councilman Joash Schulman was also interviewed and also Tim Solanic.

Coastal Transplants has installed sand fences and planted American Beach Grass on the dunes. Sea Oats have now also been planted on the crest of the dunes. “Please Stay Off the Dunes “ signs remind beach goers to leave the grass and dunes undisturbed. Let’s give the grass a chance to get established!

What is this all about? Here is Jill’s story: When I moved to this neighborhood, my dad couldn’t believe I bought a house next door to a condemned home with a tree growing through the hole in the roof. It was surrounded by several similar old cinder block buildings. He saw it as a poor investment. I had heard there were plans for the area, and I could see the older, less-maintained buildings around me slowly being replaced by decent residences and businesses. I was excited to see the changes and watch my investment grow in value, not just monetarily, but as a neighborhood as well. Many other people started seeing the potential in our area. As I started a family I thought, “Wow, with these plans for structural improvements, one day my children will have a great place to walk, bike and enjoy the area. It would be safer, family friendly and would show off our wonderful community. Every year it got pushed off. My children learned to walk, then bike and later drive. Other things took priority for this city leadership (including a bike path through First Landing State park that barely gets used compared to the amount of pedestrian and bike traffic our dense area could have but somehow found immediate funding upon proposal). Well, my children grew up and went away to college. They never saw the improvements to our phase of Shore Drive. But we will have a fine surf park and some amazing music festivals that will help the restaurant and hotel businesses at the oceanfront (which has received some significant improvements since I bought my first home). I’d like to propose that I owe no more taxes to this city until leadership can figure out how to evenly allocate its attention. By choosing this wonderful neighborhood and believing in its potential, I invested in this city in so many ways but quite a bit financially. It hasn’t returned the investment.

The City of Virginia Beach Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget process is underway. The long planned and promised improvements to Shore Dr. from the Lesner Bridge to Marlin Bay Dr. have again been postponed. Among other topics, the Phase 4 Capital Improvements for Shore Dr will be discussed at the April 6 OPCL meeting at 7:00 pm at the Brock Center. For more information on the project: Opcl.org/phase-iv-long-promised-west-shore-dr-improvements/

District 9 Councilman Joash Schulman said that he was caught unawares that this proposal was being made (2024 FY defunding of Shore Dr. Phase 4 & both Pleasure House Rd. Phase I & 2). He is talking with city staff to determine how the recommendation came about and exactly what it means going forward before publicly commenting or take an strong stance. He will communicate and engage with the district in the future when he has thorough and accurate information

The first Town Hall Meeting took place at the Bayside Rec Center on Saturday, March 25. The City Council seeks input from voters about what election system they want to see in Virginia Beach. The city charter must be updated even if the 10 district system used in the 2022 election is continued. At the meeting on Saturday, the meeting began with a short video presentation about the background of changes in how elections have been handled in VB. The majority of the meeting time was for people to give input about their views on the election system. District 9 Councilman Joash Schulman was in attendance to listen to these views. The speakers overwhelmingly favored the 10/1 system. One speaker expressed support for having some at-large seats saying that he wanted to be able to vote for more than one member of council. The rest of the speakers spoke in support of having 10 districts (10/1 system) many voicing similar reasons: accountability, feeling more represented. Many also cited the advantage of the reduced role of money when a candidate does not have to raise money to campaign in the entire city allowing more candidate diversity. Two candidates from the last election spoke to that as their experience. A former councilman, who worked on the voting referendums in the 90’s, made the point that voters do not vote on all members of the House of Delegates or State Senate, they elect their representative. He also mentioned that the court decision in Alabama due in April or May will have an effect. Another concern mentioned often was redrawing district lines. The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service is organizing the meetings on behalf of the City Council and they will compile the input and present it to the City Council.

From our wonderful Pleasure House Point Clean up Organizer, Mary Faust: “He’s little but mighty!! Holden and Jillian Howe were out today clearing refuse from Pleasure House Point Natural Area today along with 28 other volunteers who graciously gave their time and energy to help out!! Another approximately 200 lbs. including more rusty car parts (thanks Mike and Connie Pearman!), a rusty twin boxspring (looking at you Mike Kreckel) and a broken office chair (ok Jennifer!!)!! Lots of young ones with their parents -the kids love it!! Fortunately the weather was a bit nicer today than last time!! Thanks everyone!!”