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Plan a Beach Park Getaway to Little Island Park
 Little Island Park, located at the southern end of Sandbridge, just north of Back Bay, offers everything you'll need for a day at the beach without the distraction of huge crowds and retail galore. Little Island features a 2000 foot beach for swimming and fishing and a 775 foot beach for surfing, with the two areas separated by a 400 foot fishing pier.
Additionally, the park offers tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts and beach volleyball, and a newly renovated playground. With convenient restrooms and concessions, inexpensive daily parking and picnic shelters available for rent, you'll enjoy a relaxing day at the beach. New this year, seasonal rental items are available that include corn hole games, umbrellas/chairs, tiki umbrellas and soft surf boards.
The pier admission fee is $7. Weekly and annual pier passes are also available. A Virginia Saltwater Fishing License is not needed for the pier, but is required if fishing from the beach. Be sure to bring your own bait and equipment as these items are not available at the park.
It's a best bet to arrive to the park early, especially on the weekends, so that you can avoid traffic and secure a parking spot. Parking is $3 for residents and $5 for non-residents. Buses and RV's are $10 per day. The park and fishing pier are open from 5:30 am to 11 pm daily.
View photos of the park, or check out an aerial view to see where the amenities are located. |
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We've Got a Cleaner Bay Thanks to 1,900 Volunteers!
 Yes, Virginia Beach, your Bay (and more) is now cleaner! Over 1900 of your family, friends and neighbors joined forces with the City of Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to get out and do their part in cleaning up 52 sites in the city. These groups collected and removed over 34,000 pounds of litter! Zone Captains stepped up and organized groups and ensured that the area they were responsible for was spotless by the end of this one day event.
If you did not get a chance to help out this year, please keep us in mind for the next. If you want more information, please visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's website.
If you are looking for opportunities throughout the year, check out our Adopt-a-Program, join our Trails Club, and of course, you can take a bag out with you each time you head out. Pick up the litter BEFORE it ends up in our waterways! |
 Protecting yourself from the sun should always be a priority when heading outdoors in the summer months. Below are tips from the FDA on purchasing and applying sunscreen.
Check product labels to make sure you get:
- A "sun protection factor" (SPF) of 15 or more. SPF represents the degree to which a sunscreen can protect the skin from sunburn. The higher the number, the better the protection.
- "Broad spectrum" protection sunscreen that contains products which protect against both UVA UVB rays.
- Water-resistant sunscreen that stays on your skin longer, even if it gets wet. "Water-resistant" does not mean "waterproof." Water-resistant sunscreens need to be reapplied as instructed on the label.
Tips for applying sunscreen:
- Apply the recommended amount evenly to all uncovered skin, especially your lips, nose, ears, neck, hands, and feet.
- Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going out in the sun.
- If you don't have much hair, apply sunscreen to the top of your head, or wear a hat.
- Reapply at least every two hours.
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 Get Involved - Join the Trails Club!
 Love being outdoors? Looking to be active in your community? Join like-minded individuals who are working to enhance the multi-use trails system in our city parks and natural areas. This volunteer group meets one Saturday a month at one of our local trails to pick up litter and trim, prune and maintain our trails!
The next clean up will take place on July 9 from 9 am to noon at Lake Smith. Contact the Outdoor Programs Unit at 385-0472, or email outdoors@VBgov.com for more information. |
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation's annual summer 
