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Spring Catalogs Available Online
 Our new Spring 2010 Youth and Adult Program Catalogs will help you plan for an active season! Get outdoors with a boot camp or kayaking experience. Register the kids for an exciting Spring Break camp. Learn to play a new sport such as golf or tennis. It's all inside!
Printed catalogs will be available beginning March 8. Registration begins Saturday, March 13 for most programs. Summer camp registration begins Saturday, March 27 for Recreation Center Camps and Saturday, April 17 for School-Based Camps. |
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Save the Date for Cherry Blossom Festival: March 27
 Celebrate Virginia Beach's international sisterhood with Miyazaki City, Japan, at the 6th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, March 27, 2010, at Red Wing Park (1398 General Booth Blvd) from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm. Enjoy the rich culture and beauty of Japanese music, martial arts, cultural activities and demonstrations such as the paper art of Origami, Oriental Pottery, Gyotaku and more. View the event program.
Admission is free. The festival is sponsored by Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation, the City of Virginia Beach Mayor's Sister Cities Commission, the Japan Education Culture Center Inc., and supported by the Virginia Beach Koto Society and Old Dominion University Martial Arts program.
Food and beverage are available for purchase. You are welcome to bring a blanket or lawn chair for the performances. In the event of inclement weather conditions, the event will be postponed until Sunday, March 28, at the same time and place.
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Update on Lake Lawson/Lake Smith Natural Area
Parks & Recreation's Planning, Design and Development division held a public meeting on February 24 to present the final master plan concept for the Lake Smith/Lake Lawson Natural Area and to seek public input. The meeting was well attended with approximately 50 guests. The preferred alternative of the Master Plan was well received, and following analysis of comments and completed survey forms, our design consultants will finalize the Master Plan Report.
The cul-de-sac option was presented to elicit comments from the public; any further consideration of this option will require additional public input.
It is anticipated that detailed design & construction of the Phase I Improvements (new boat ramp, parking, and trails) will take place in the next 12-18 months. Learn more about the project and view the final master plan concept here. |
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Call for Exhibitors and Artisans for Upcoming Special Events
 Earth Day Exhibitors
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and the 20th year of our Earth Day Celebration in Hampton Roads. Our event at Mount Trashmore will take place on May 2 and will follow the national Earth Day theme "The Green Generation - A Billion Acts of Green."
This year's event will feature environmental and science exhibits, interactive displays, demos, crafts, games, food, and live entertainment. The perfect venue for this regional celebration, Mount Trashmore Park allows attendees and Exhibitors to interact in an outdoor setting and enjoy the festivities together as nature intended.
There are two exhibitor categories: Non-Profit Exhibitor and Commercial Exhibitor. There will be no fee for participating Non-Profit Exhibitors unless selling a promotional product, then a $100 fee will apply. Commercial Exhibitors will be charged a $100 Exhibitors fee, whether selling a product or not. Get more information becoming a Commercial or Non-Profit Exhibitor.
 Artisans in the Park
The 35th annual Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Art & Craft Festival, Artisans in the Park, will be held August 7-8 at Great Neck Park. Offering a weekend of outdoor family fun, this festival provides an opportunity for artists and craftsmen to display and sell their work as an estimated crowd of 20,000 enjoy the displays, stage entertainment, children's activities and festival foods. Free admission and parking for the general public! All qualified artisans are encouraged to apply for Artisans in the Park!
All work must be original, professional quality, and executed by the accepted artist who must personally attend the booth space. Two artists producing one single work may apply as an exhibiting team and occupy one space. Additional information is available on the Artisan Application. |
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Please Note Our Upcoming Facility Closures
The pool at Great Neck Recreation Center will close at 10:00 am, March 3 for maintenance and will reopen at 10:00 am, March 4.
Seatack Recreation Center will be closed March 8-14 for maintenance. The pool will remain closed through March 19.
The pool at Kempsville Recreation Center will be closed March 29 through April 4 for the installation of a new filtration system.
Don't forget that your membership is good at all six recreation centers! If your usual center is closed for maintenance, take the opportunity to visit another center. Use this locator to help you find one! |
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Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation believes all of our diverse citizens have a right to participate in community recreation and we are committed to creating equal access for everyone who may have a challenge or barrier. If you or your child require additional support, we can help. Learn more about our accommodation and inclusion services. |
We welcome your comments and questions. Feel free to email us at fun@vbgov.com. |
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Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA,
the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association. |
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation fundraiser at the new Chipotle restaurant near Lynnhaven Mall. The Foundation raised a total of $1,675 in just three hours! 
