Virginian-Pilot correspondent
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
For the past seven years, beachgoers have likely gotten used to the temporary port-a-potties located along 2nd Street.
The temporary toilets sat behind screened-in enclosures in an effort to dress them up a bit. But by this summer, Oceanfront visitors will notice an even bigger improvement to these facilities. In mid-January, the city began construction of new permanent public restrooms on the corner of 2nd Street. The bathrooms will be located across the Boardwalk near the entrance to Grommet Island Park, a 15,000-square-foot handicap-accessible playground that opened last May.
Without the new park, the permanent restrooms may not have been built.
“The new park there probably put more focus on that,” said Rob Fries of the city’s resort management office. “Otherwise I don’t know if it was on anybody’s radar screen.”
Fries said the city budgeted $250,000 for the construction of the new permanent facilities as part of its capital-improvement program.
The Oceanfront has other permanent restrooms already – facilities are located on 31st Street, 30th Street, 24th Street and 17th Street – and those are also associated with city parks that are within walking distance.
“Now you’ve got a destination point down there with a lot of activity and children, and the demand has increased,” said Chuck Davis, the city’s building maintenance administrator.
Right now, surfers and other beachgoers will still find several port-a-potties on the north side of 2nd Street. Already, workers have got the walls up for the new bathrooms and the roof will be going on next, Fries said. Construction is expected to be completed by June, but it could be a little sooner.
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CoVB Admission First St. Surf/Rec. Park a Destination
The First Street Recreation and Surf Park, once fully developed as a vegetated, path filled, picnic table laden gather point for locals and visitors, will finally establish the prime destination for all at the resort area. The rock solid restrooms are only the first step along the sandy path to community bliss. It must never be all about hotels, condos, and paved over affronts to the local citizenry. Visitors do not flock to CoVB to ride elevators up/down lofty cave-like structures. There is no better use for the site than a huge park, in total. Now, about the parking. Primarily locals go to First St. until Memorial Day. Why charge on April 1? Clearly more evidence that the CoVB is not getting the bang for the buck from the hotel folks.
finally, i can stop...
...going in the lineup. It's why the old steel pier corroded away.
i have been told by the city
i have been told by the city there will be a family restroom there too. yey!
Better late than never.
Better late than never. Public restrooms at 2nd street have been needed for at least the past 25 years, but why would the city council want to spend money on something to benefit surfers who aren't politically viable in their eyes.
So did I read this correctly, the old bungee jump site has been redeveloped into a kids park? I sure hope that an elevated walkway was budgeted and will be built for the little ones before some speeding car runs a child over.
Doctors, Lawyers, Senior Chiefs, Captains, Commanders
Surfers patronizing First Street Recreation and Surf Park include not only kids and Gen X,Y,& Z riders, but families & long-toothed tax-paying/vote dropping seniors of this community. Although the CoVB has been trying to silent the known majority of constant beach goers for decades, it continually uses the images of surfers in printed promotions. The only visible display of support for the surfing community comes during the latter part of August for the ECSC, in part, a revenue generator for the CoVB, but in reality - the last great blow-out of the hectic summer months for the coastal tribes having dealt with seasonal invaders. To date, the CoVB's support on that has been exemplinary, & providing the facilities long, long overdue for all.
You read it wrong
Grommet Park is located on the boardwalk, it extends from the boardwalk out into the sand area on the beach.
AND DON'T EVER...
...change clothes in these new restrooms. That would be unseemly.
"Good" reason for restriction
Tourists have their hotel rooms close to the beach to change clothes. They spend lots on money for lodging and meals.
Locals don't contribute to hotel operator's revenue. They might even bring sandwiches and beverages to the beach in coolers, so restauranteurs don't make money of off them.
Wouldn't want to encourage even more of the locals to visit the beach and allow the tourists to feel crowded.
Hey Chuck, as you know, the
Hey Chuck, as you know, the beach at 1st street has always had a larger crowd than most of the currently served areas. Just wasn't the right type of crowd right? locals and surfers don't show up in your census? How about an elevated walk way on Pacific so our kids don't get run down?
The stop lights and cross
The stop lights and cross walks appear to be effective. Why spend money when the rules of the road already work?