During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR):

For this past holiday weekend August 29 – September 1 the marine forecast was not ideal. Overall operations were very smooth. We had a total of 537 launches over the 4-day holiday weekend.

Friday, August 29 –     163 total launches, car parking did not fill up there was available parking throughout the day. The overflow lot was used for 4 larger trailers. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.

Saturday, August 30 – 142 total launches, car parking did not fill up there was available parking throughout the day.  The overflow was used for 12 trailers.  Barricade operations were not needed. 

Sunday, August 31 –   142 total launches, car parking was full around 1pm with limited parking until 8pm. The overflow was used for 13 oversized vehicles. Barricade operations were not needed.

Monday, September 1 (Labor Day) – 90 total launches, car parking did not fill up there was available parking throughout the day. The overflow lot was used for 4 larger trailers. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.

Incidents to report:

• No issues to report this weekend. Operations went very smooth.

• Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed normal facility use after staff hours. Police Real time Crime Center was seen monitoring the cameras during the overnight. Onsite GardaWorld Security continues to move around the entire facility as requested. The citywide roving security vehicle was seen each night moving through the facility after 2am to provide additional presence at the facility. 3^rdPrecinct officers were seen throughout the evenings and into the early mornings making rounds through the facility as well. 

Hurricane Erin brought high tides to the area and with it concerns about the impact on the oyster beds specifically water quality as the PHP wetlands project had some flooding. Lynnhaven River Now (LRN) monitors water quality throughout Virginia Beach but especially in the Lynnhaven River Watershed by testing for nutrients and contamination on a monthly basis. Water samples and site data are collected and delivered the to HRSD for processing on the first Tuesday or second Monday of each month. The results and site data from the monitors are collated at LRNow and shared with volunteers and the public. Interested neighbors can see the results of the testing at Pleasure House Point on the LRN website. Results show that at present normal levels are found.

During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR):

“August 22-24 was very slow because of the marine forecast and higher than normal tides due to the passing of Hurricane Erin. We had a total of 341 launches over the 3 days.

“Friday, August 22 –     53 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, August 23 – 155 total launches, car parking filled around 12:00pm and was steady of the day.  The overflow was used for 12 trailers.  Barricade operations were not needed. “

“Sunday, August 24 –   128 total launches, car parking did not fill up there was available parking throughout the day. The overflow was used for 8 oversized vehicles. Barricade operations were not needed.”

Incidents to report:

• Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed normal facility use after staff hours. Police real time crime center was seen monitoring the cameras during the overnight. Security continues to do a great job of keeping cars out of the trailer lot and checking the front lots as requested. Video footage from Saturday night around 10:30-10:45pm showed a group of motorcycles come into the facility. The RTCC monitored the group and security as well as a police vehicle were present. The group left within an hour with no issues. 

• Staff received several complaints from people coming to the window because they received parking tickets. Staff explained the metered parking and how enforcement works.

Additional information:

• Staff repaired damaged pier boards resulting from higher-than-average tides due to hurricane Erin

During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR):

“The weekend August 15-17 was back to a very busy weekend of launches and beach traffic. We had a total of 509 launches over the 3 days.”

“Friday, August 15 –     135 total launches, car parking did not fill up there was available parking throughout the day. The overflow lot was used for 5 larger trailers. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.

Saturday, August 16 – 164 total launches, car parking filled around 10:30am and was busy the remainder of the day.  The overflow was used for 18 trailers.  Barricade operations were not needed.

Sunday, August 17 –   210 total launches, car parking was full from 10:30am for remainder of the day. The overflow was used for 45 vehicles. Barricade operations were not needed.”

Incidents to report:

• “On the night of Saturday, August 16, 2025, at approximately 11:30 PM, GardaWorld Security was approached by a citizen who reported that a woman had inadvertently locked her keys inside her vehicle with her three-year-old son trapped inside. Visual confirmation was made of the child inside the vehicle. According to security guard the child appeared calm and alert, showing no signs of visible distress, heat exhaustion, or medical emergency. At approximately 11:32 PM, police were contacted via radio. Police and fire-rescue units were promptly dispatched and arrived on scene at 11:36 PM. Fire personnel deployed tools to access the vehicle. At approximately 11:46 PM, fire personnel successfully opened the vehicle and safely extracted the child. The child had been locked inside the car for an estimated 16 to 20 minutes. No injuries were reported, and no medical treatment was required or administered.”
• “Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed heavy parking utilization until about 1130pm on Friday but limited on Saturday and Sunday after hours. Police real time crime center was seen monitoring the cameras during the overnight. Security is doing a great job of keeping cars out of the trailer lot and checking the front lots as requested. We have also implemented a roving security guard that visits the boat ramp and beach facility between 2am and 6am Tuesday through Saturday night as part of their citywide patrol schedule.”

• “Staff have reported one of the Dominion Power lights in the parking lot is out. We have submitted a work order to have it looked at.”

School is in session! A gentle reminder to be on the lookout for kids and buses. We wish all our students, teachers, staff and parents a wonderful year!

At the August 7 Ocean Park Civic League Meeting, President Danny Murphy shared the latest update on the proposed subdivision development within our neighborhood. The Marlin Bay Extension (different from the Marlin Bay multistory building project on Shore Drive- nothing new on that) is currently under review by the Planning Department. The project includes 26 units- 12 duplexes and 2 single family houses located near Pleasure House Point. The project is in the early stages of review and we will continue to monitor it and provide updates. President Danny Murphy secured an assurance from the Planning Department that as the project progresses, staff will be open to attending a civic league meeting to present.

On Thursday, August 7th, 3rd Precinct Captain James Gordon and Virginia Beach Marine Police Supervisor Sgt. Brian Ricardo presented at our monthly meeting. We thank Capt. Gordon and Sgt. Ricardo for taking the time to speak to our neighbors. We also want to thank you -our neighbors -for sending in thoughtful questions and engaging in an informative discussion with law enforcement on these critical issues. Safety along our shorelines, at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and on our neighborhood streets is an ongoing issue and we value effective partnerships to make improvements.

Full meeting minutes will be published here however we’ve noted a few highlights below:

Capt. Gordon detailed the officers’ response on the July 26th evening incident when a large crowd gathered on the Ocean Park Beach. He underscored that while there was evidence of cannibis and alchohol, the officers must witness actionable offenses which they did not.

He responded to a question about a picture that was posted on social media of a person in handcuffs supposedly at the July 26 incident. He said that that picture is not related and he doesn’t know where it is from.

When asked what additional strategies were in the works, relayed that he had just toured the LBR site with the City Attorney to talk about getting additional signage warning visitors that they are under surveillance in hopes of providing an additional deterrent through that awareness of the cameras in operation. Signs emphasizing pay parking rules were also discussed.

While the VBPD 3rd Precinct have been working closely with us to keep us informed and aware, Sgt. Brian Ricardo from the Virginia Beach Marine Police was a first time visitor and he brought lots of new information.

• The Marine Police have a vast area to patrol: 40 miles of Atlantic Beaches from the North End to Sandbridge, 20 miles of Bay Beaches, 17 mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the Lynnhaven, ponds, Broad Bay and more. For this they have 8 officers. Four officers and two boats by us and 3 officers at Rudee Inlet. (one officer is retiring and won’t be replaced).
• All officers have collateral duties in addition to patrolling the waterways.( a recent example: recovery of a child drowning victim in a pond). The training to be a VBPD Marine Officer is arduous. It takes 6 months to qualify and train on all vessels. All VBMP officers have earned US Coast Guard Captain’s Licenses which is not the case in nearby jurisdictions. 
• The main concern expressed by neighbors is that they wish to see more enforcement by the VBMP. However VBMP must have probable cause to interdict so that means they must first see a violation of state code (wake zone violation, littering) before they are allowed to conduct a safety inspection (life jackets for all, fire extinguishers). They have no jurisdiction over charter boat activity. 
• We had many who asked about the unsafe behavior of jet skis and boats coming very close to swimmers on the bay beaches. Sgt Ricardo explained that some time ago the restrictions on jet skis and boats that are in force at the Oceanfront were taken away through the efforts of a state legislator who lives on the Lynnhaven Inlet. The VBMP can only enforce a violation of reckless operation next to a swimmer rather than limits on how close to shore they can come. 
• Coast Guard stationed at Little Creek who need  hours to maintain certifications join VBMP operations especially on holiday weekends. They have broader powers to enforce federal laws and to terminate a voyage.

We thank our guest speakers and the VBPD for their ongoing engagement with our community.

Here are the slides from the August 7 meeting:

Come have a cookie and a cool drink on Thursday, August 7, at 7 pm at the Brock Center. We will have updates on various topics: McLeskey developments and upcoming events. We have invited Captain Gordon, 3rd Precinct Capt. and Sergeant Ricardo of the VBPD Marine Patrol. We have asked Capt. Gordon for an overview of the VBPD Coordination with the newly implemented nightly security, along with the procedures and timeline of the past weekend’s events. We have asked Sgt. Ricardo for a summary of the VBPD Marine Patrol’s purview and an overview of other boating enforcement agencies’ responsibilities with reference to on-water boating operation and behavior. Capt. Gordon responded that he has rearranged his schedule in order to attend our meeting. Sgt. Ricardo will also join us. We look forward to their information and appreciate their willingness to give their time in an evening event.

President Danny Murphy outlines the plan for the meeting: To ensure a productive and civil dialogue, we plan to implement some guidelines for discussion. Attendees are asked to submit their questions in writing by THURSDAY NOON. Questions received will be provided to speaker in advance to ensure thoughtful responses. This does not mean follow up or additional questions can’t be asked should time allow, but rather it increases the ability of the speaker to gather resources in order to answer the questions from the members. Questions can be emailed to president@opcl.org.

You can also join the meeting on Zoom: Register here!