| Parks & Recreation Newsletter | December 2012 |
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Looking Back: Fiscal 2012 Annual Report
 We'd love for you to take a look at our 2012 Annual Report to see what we've accomplished in the past fiscal year. You may be surprised at just how far the department spans in terms of services, programs and facilities offered.
Did you know that Parks & Recreation:
- Manages 272 city park sites, 7,381 acres of parks and natural areas, six community recreation centers, a tennis center and a municipal marina?
- Provides landscape maintenance for roadways (including mowing and maintaining 155 linear miles of divided highways), public buildings, the Municipal Center, the resort area, Town Center, public spaces, parks and public school sites?
- Serves 3,800 children every day in our before and after school programs?
- Represents just 3% of the entire city operating budget?
- Received a total of 149,448 donated hours from 9,919 volunteers this past fiscal year? This is the equivalent of 72 full-time employees! |
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Provide Input on Dog Park Design for Bayville Farms Park
 We're in the process of planning future improvements at Bayville Farms Park, a 68-acre park located adjacent to Bayside Recreation Center. Due to the growing demand for off-leash dog areas in the City, we're designing a dog park for this location.
Our current design standard for dog parks provides a fenced area for both small and large dogs to socialize and run together. This design has been implemented in existing off-leash dog areas at Red Wing Park and Woodstock Park.
We are considering an alternative design that would create separate areas for small and large dogs. Do you think that the dog park design at Bayville Farms Park should follow the current design standard of one area for all dogs, or would you prefer separate areas for large and small dogs?
Tell us what you think using the City's new online civic engagement tool called Virtual Town Hall. It takes just a minute to subscribe and you'll be able to weigh in on this and other City topics. You can also view what others are saying about the same issues. Learn more!
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Revamp Your Workout at Passport to Fitness!
 Ready to change up your workout routine? Enjoy a morning full of FREE fitness classes at our Passport to Fitness event on Saturday, January 19 from 9 am to 12 pm. Five recreation centers - Bayside, Great Neck, Kempsville, Princess Anne & Williams Farm - will host a flight of land and water fitness classes for you to participate in. There's no admission cost, no membership requirement, and no advance registration!
Our certified instructors will teach a variety of 20-minute cardio, strength, mind & body, and dance classes, including ZumbaŽ, RIP, Drums AliveŽ, Aqua Cross Training, yoga and much more!
Fitness staff will be available to answer your questions and share their knowledge on the latest fitness trends. Be sure to bring a yoga mat for mind & body classes, and bring a swimsuit for Williams Farm's water fitness sessions.
You can enter into a drawing for a 30-day Unlimited Group Fitness Pass just for attending Passport to Fitness! Class schedules will be posted soon at VBgov.com/SpecialEvents. Start planning for a fit new year!
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Give the Gift of Recreation!
 Simplify your shopping this year with Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation gift cards! Our gift cards can be purchased in any amount that the recipient can use towards a membership, personal training, classes, programs, shelter reservations, birthday parties, and at Owl Creek Tennis Center. So, forget long lines at the mall, wondering which toys he already has or which size she wears, and give a gift they're sure to enjoy! Stop by any recreation center to purchase cards and give the gift of recreation!
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Spaces Filling Quickly for Winter Wildlife Festival!
January 25-27, 2013 | Princess Anne Recreation Center
 Registration for the 2013 Winter Wildlife Festival began in November and several sessions have already filled to capacity! Don't miss the opportunity to witness winter wildlife all around Virginia Beach in this three-day festival. New sessions for 2013 include:
- Pleasure House Point Bird Walks
- Back Bay & False Cape Birding
- Intermediate Nature Photography
- Photography Field Session
- Full-day trip to Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel & Fisherman's Island
- Children's Activities by Princess Anne Library
We also have plenty of returning favorites like the Back Bay/False Cape Terragator & Tram Tour, First Landing Bird Walks, Owl Prowls, Exhibit Hall and more. Check out our festival website for more information and to download a registration form. Sessions have a limited number of spaces, so register early to secure your spot!
Our kick-off speaker this year will be writer and wildlife illustrator, Julie Zickefoose. Julie is a Bird Watcher's Digest contributor and a former NPR commentator. She will be speaking about her newest book, The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds with Common Birds, which gives an intimate, eye- opening look at the rich mental and emotional landscape of birds. The event kick-off will be held at 7 pm, Friday, January 25 at Kempsville Recreation Center. This event is free, but registration is required. A book signing will follow with copies of The Bluebird Effect available for purchase. |
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Please Note Our Upcoming Facility Closures
Bow Creek Recreation Center is closed for a long-term modernization project. Expected re-opening is Fall 2014.
All Virginia Beach Recreation Centers, Owl Creek Tennis Center, administrative offices, staffed parks & park facilities will be closed on Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25 for Christmas. All facilities will also close at 5 pm on Monday, December 31 and remain closed on Tuesday, January 1 for New Year's.
All Virginia Beach Recreation Centers, Owl Creek Tennis Center, administrative offices, staffed parks & park facilities will be closed on Monday, January 21 for Martin Luther King Day.
Don't forget that your membership is good at all Virginia Beach 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! |
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 your child requires additional support, we can help. Learn more about our accommodation and inclusion services.
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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. |
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