All-access Beach park is a go

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The Virginian-Pilot
© March 10, 2010

By Jaedda Armstrong

VIRGINIA BEACH

When 14-year-old Caroline Pennell of Chesterfield has visited the Oceanfront, she's been forced to sit and watch other folks have fun. As soon as this spring, Caroline, who uses a wheelchair as a result of muscular dystrophy, will be able to enjoy a day on the beach.

Tuesday night, the City Council gave the OK for construction to start on a wheelchair-accessible 15,000-square-foot park on the Oceanfront between 1st and 2nd streets.

The $1 million construction cost for the park has been raised from sponsors, said Brian Solis, planning administrator for Parks and Recreation. The Virginia Gentlemen Foundation, the nonprofit that raises funds for the park, will pay $30,000 of $43,000 in first-year operating costs, he said.

The idea for JT's Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground for EveryBODY came about when Josh Thompson, a local resident who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, wasn't able to join his family at the beach. It was too difficult to get his wheelchair across the sand and down to the surf.

The park is named after him and his love of surfing - "grommet" is slang for a novice surfer.

Josh's father, local developer Bruce Thompson, proposed the park to the city.

The park will have interactive equipment accessible to people in wheelchairs, a rubber play surface and canopies overhead.

The park's ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for May 15.

Caroline, a national spokeswoman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, was asked to give recommendations on what the park should feature. She looks forward to being the first to try out the park at the ribbon-cutting.

"It's just a fun form of independence for people in wheelchairs," Caroline said.

Jaedda Armstrong, (757) 222-5110, jaedda.armstrong@pilotonline.com

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New park at the beach!

Submitted by marybethd32999 on Wed, 03/10/2010 at 6:02 pm.

Oh, we have been waiting for something like this for many years! My son, who is now 20 and has CP, will certainly enjoy this park!

Thank you!!!!!

How Wonderful!

Submitted by Akira1 on Wed, 03/10/2010 at 3:45 pm.

I wondered what the construction was when I was on the boardwalk today.
I am so glad to hear about this park! This is such a great thing for our community and I applaud all that took part in making this happen. YEA!!

All-access Beach park is a go

Submitted by letsbereal on Wed, 03/10/2010 at 3:41 pm.

I have met Josh Thompson and he is a very nice person.

However, Here again we watch time after time as the City Council gives his father the run of the town. If Josh was not ill I am sure that Bruce would fight to put up another Hotel. He would not care about the park.

Are you serious????

Submitted by LT5 on Thu, 05/20/2010 at 9:29 pm.

How dare you make the comment you made about Bruce Thompson!!! Do you even know the man? Well I do...Josh was my boss for almost 9 years until he fell ill. Have you ever stopped to think that Bruce has turned his efforts into raising money to help people? That is a choice...one that he didn't have to make. Not to mention his son is dying. Perhaps you could show some empathy. Shame on you for being so cold and callous! Oh and Josh isn't just a nice person, he's an amazing man that many of us love and care about!