Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Making Virginia Beach a great place to live and play! Our mission is to exceed community expectations in an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable manner.

CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH SOCIAL MEDIA TERMS OF USE

Purpose of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Page: To provide local citizens with information about recreational and wellness programs, events, facilities, and services. CRITERIA FOR POSTING ON THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH'S SOCIAL MEDIA:

By posting on the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation (VBPR) page, you acknowledge that you have read a

nd agree to the following Terms of Use. Followers of the VBPR page are encouraged to post information about issues affecting the department and residents. We encourage discussion and varying viewpoints; however, the VBPR page will not feature any of the following and reserves the right to delete posts/pictures/videos that include such items.

• Solicitations or advertisements of any kind that are not officially sponsored or endorsed by the City of Virginia Beach
• Nudity or po*******hy
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• Establishments where the distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages is a primary business function
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In summary, please feel free to post your thoughts and opinions, whether positive, negative or indifferent, but please do it respectfully and without malice. If you use hateful, obscene or insulting language or launch personal attacks, we will delete your post. VBPR reserves the right to block users who repeatedly violate our terms of use.

01/01/2025

🌳Wildlife Wednesday!🌳

The 2025 Winter Wildlife Photo Contest is OPEN! We're accepting submissions in the following categories until 11:59pm on February 3rd!

📷 Wildlife Portrait
📷 Wildlife Action
📷 Festival in Action
📷 Landscape/Scenic
📷 Youth
📷 People's Choice

Here are some helpful tips from photography enthusiast Steve Coari.

🐤 Focus on the eyes. If you are close enough to see them, make the eyes the prominent detail in your shot.
☀️ Identify your light source! Front lighting creates clear detailed shots of your subject.
📸 Use a faster shutter speed and pan the camera or lens to track your subject’s motion for sharper action shots.
🌲 Shoot from cover to avoid startling wildlife. Use natural or man-made blinds like trees, bushes, picnic tables or even your vehicle to stay hidden.
🔋 Finally, always bring a spare battery - patience is essential in wildlife photography. Take your time and let wildlife reveal itself to you.

We can't wait to see this year's awesome submissions!

Enter here: https://bit.ly/40fmpyz

Video description: This video starts by showing a heron hunting and catching a fish. The following images on the video feature five different photos from previous contest winners including birds, landscape, and a fox. Each of the images includes one helpful tip on how to capture photos of wildlife in Virginia Beach.

🔔Happy Holidays from Parks & Rec! Check out our Holiday Hours:Dec. 24 - Rec centers & parks close at 12pm.Dec. 25 - All ...
12/20/2024

🔔Happy Holidays from Parks & Rec! Check out our Holiday Hours:

Dec. 24 - Rec centers & parks close at 12pm.
Dec. 25 - All facilities closed.
Dec. 31 - Rec centers close at 5pm, parks open regular hours.
Jan. 1 - Rec centers open 9-5, parks open regular hours.

12/18/2024

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳

🍃 The Northern Flicker is one of the few migratory North American woodpeckers. While it can climb trees and hammer on wood, this fascinating bird often forages on the ground in search of ants and other insects using its down-curved bill.

🌳 To spot a Northern Flicker, explore open woods or forest edges - listen carefully for their unique loud call. Keep an eye on the ground, you might catch the vibrant colors as it takes flight.

Video description: A Northern Flicker flies into frame and lands on the ground of a forest. This brown woodpecker has vibrant flashes of color as it moves around.

12/11/2024

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳

Check out these amazing brown pelicans spotted at Marshview Park last winter! With an impressive six-foot wingspan, they're actually the smallest of all pelican species. Known for their sharp eyesight, brown pelicans soar high above the water to spot schools of fish, then dive dramatically into the water to catch their prey.

Video description: This video shows a photo of a pelican with its wings out, followed by a video of a lake lined with trees with pelicans flying and diving into the lake catching their prey.

The Williams Farm rec center pool will be closed for maintenance Dec. 13-14 and will reopen on Sunday, Dec. 15.
12/11/2024

The Williams Farm rec center pool will be closed for maintenance Dec. 13-14 and will reopen on Sunday, Dec. 15.

What makes a park a must-visit destination? Join a virtual session on Rudee Park on Wednesday, Dec 11, 6:30pm, to share ...
12/09/2024

What makes a park a must-visit destination? Join a virtual session on Rudee Park on Wednesday, Dec 11, 6:30pm, to share your ideas for the future of the oceanfront park and to get more information on the timeline and project stages. Head to rudeepark.com for the Zoom meeting link.

🎄A cherished holiday tradition of wreath making continues! This year, 46 stunning wreaths were crafted using 13 unique p...
12/06/2024

🎄A cherished holiday tradition of wreath making continues! This year, 46 stunning wreaths were crafted using 13 unique plant materials collected from across Virginia Beach by our dedicated Parks & Landscape team.

✨Hand-assembled with care by 54 talented volunteers of the Council of Garden Clubs, these beautifully fragrant, pine-scented wreaths are now on display at the Municipal Center and Central Library.

❄️Have you spotted these festive creations? Share your favorites with us in the comments!

Two Rudee Park public engagement sessions are being held next week.Dec. 9 at Kempsville High School from 6-7:30 p.m., De...
12/05/2024

Two Rudee Park public engagement sessions are being held next week.
Dec. 9 at Kempsville High School from 6-7:30 p.m.,
Dec. 10 at Holland Road Annex Library from 6-7:30 p.m.,

These sessions are a great opportunity to voice your opinion, vote on ideas, meet the design team and learn more about the project.

These discussions will influence the design of this new world-class park. Get more details on the project at https://communications.virginiabeach.gov/hot-topics/building-our-vb-future/rudee-park

Let's write the Rudee Park story, together.

12/04/2024

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳

Watch these raccoons on the move through Virginia Beach! These nocturnal creatures are most common in the Tidewater region and love to eat fruit, seeds, nuts, insects, rodents and more!

Video description: This video shows several videos of raccoons walking through a wooded area, walking over a beaver dam during the day and at night, and walking along a creek at night with its reflection in the water.

12/04/2024

Celebrate 15 Years of the Winter Wildlife Festival! 🦅❄️

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation (VBPR) are proud to present the 2025 Winter Wildlife Festival, a celebration of the incredible diversity of wildlife that calls Virginia Beach and the surrounding Atlantic Flyway home during the winter months.

Happening January 25–February 2, 2025, this special 15th-anniversary year features over 70 programs and activities, including wildlife viewing tours, educational workshops, whale watching, an owl prowl, and much more! We’re also thrilled to welcome former DWR board member Dr. Mamie Parker - MA Parker and Associates as this year’s keynote speaker. Don’t miss her inspiring presentation, “My Journey to Passion, Inspiration, and Excellence to Birds and Conservation.”

“Our goal is to promote wildlife watching, related recreation in our community, and wildlife-related tourism,” said Katie Webb of the Winter Wildlife Festival. “We aim to make nature exploration and wildlife watching accessible and give our participants a good foundation so they feel comfortable seeking out further opportunities.”

Spaces fill up quickly, so register now! https://dwr.virginia.gov/blog/celebrate-15-years-of-the-winter-wildlife-festival/.

📷: DWR Staff

🌟 Support Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation this Giving Tuesday! 🌟The Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation works...
12/03/2024

🌟 Support Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation this Giving Tuesday! 🌟

The Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation works to promote healthy lifestyles and enhance our community's quality of life. From beach wheelchairs to youth scholarships and free swim lessons, your support helps make a difference! 💙

This holiday season, give back and save!

Shop our limited edition shirts and hoodies (all styles and sizes!) and enjoy 10% off with promo code: TUESDAY10.

Shop Now: https://bit.ly/48Lwcyf

👉 100% of proceeds go directly to programs that benefit our community.

Visit VBPRF.org to find other ways to get involved.

Let’s make a difference together! 💪🌊

‼️UPDATE Dec. 9: Bow Creek Rec Center is now operating at regular business hours (6am to 9pm).📣Bow Creek Rec Center will...
12/02/2024

‼️UPDATE Dec. 9: Bow Creek Rec Center is now operating at regular business hours (6am to 9pm).

📣Bow Creek Rec Center will close at 5:00 PM today due to no heat in the building. Bow Creek Rec Center will operate at adjusted hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM until further notice.

11/27/2024

🌳Wildlife Wednesday - Thanksgiving Edition🌳

🦃Gobble Gobble🦃

🍁Enjoy this series of turkeys walking across a beaver dam, grazing in a field next to a lake and walking through a field.

Video description: This video shows groups of turkeys walking across a beaver dam, grazing in a field next to a lake and walking through a field.

Thanksgiving is next week! Can you smell the pumpkin pie? Barks is already planning his post-turkey nap.Check out our Th...
11/22/2024

Thanksgiving is next week! Can you smell the pumpkin pie? Barks is already planning his post-turkey nap.

Check out our Thanksgiving hours so you can plan your holiday!

🦃 Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving)
🔴 Rec Centers: Closed
🔴 Parks & Park Facilities: Closed

🥧 Friday, Nov. 29
🟡 Rec Centers: Open 9am - 5pm
🟢 Parks & Park Facilities: Open Regular Hours

As the fall temperatures begin to cool, one of the best ways to give your dog a happy, healthy life filled with fun and ...
11/21/2024

As the fall temperatures begin to cool, one of the best ways to give your dog a happy, healthy life filled with fun and exercise all year-round is by visiting your local dog park. Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation maintains five dog parks all around the city with open spaces for your dog to run, play and exercise – for free!

Dogs and owners can socialize and exercise at dedicated Parks & Recreation spaces

11/21/2024

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳

📣Sound on to hear waterfowl being scared off by a bobcat!

🙀 Bobcats hunt waterfowl using their keen sight and acute hearing, stalking their prey before striking with a swift pounce!

Video description: This video features a bobcat preying along a beaver dam with woods in the background. The Bobcat then pounces and waterfowl can be heard making sounds and flying away.

🚨Mount Trashmore Path Improvement Project🚨 Over the next few weeks, sections of trail surrounding the base of Mount Tras...
11/20/2024

🚨Mount Trashmore Path Improvement Project🚨

Over the next few weeks, sections of trail surrounding the base of Mount Trashmore will be temporarily closed for pavement improvements. Visitors to the park will be diverted off the path and around the construction.

We appreciate your patience as we work to enhance the path for everyone’s enjoyment. The path around Lake Trashmore will remain open.

Registration for the 15th annual Winter Wildlife Festival opens in just 15 minutes! Celebrate coastal wildlife and natur...
11/15/2024

Registration for the 15th annual Winter Wildlife Festival opens in just 15 minutes!

Celebrate coastal wildlife and nature at the 2025 Winter Wildlife Festival, happening from January 25 to February 2.

Visit https://bit.ly/3UOHAVm to explore over 50 programs, tours, and activities planned for this year. 🦅

Address

2154 Landstown Road
Virginia Beach, VA
23456

Telephone

+17573851100

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Videos

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳 Check out these amazing brown pelicans spotted at Marshview Park last winter! With an impressive six-foot wingspan, they're actually the smallest of all pelican species. Known for their sharp eyesight, brown pelicans soar high above the water to spot schools of fish, then dive dramatically into the water to catch their prey. Video description: This video shows a photo of a pelican with its wings out, followed by a video of a lake lined with trees with pelicans flying and diving into the lake catching their prey.

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳 Watch these raccoons on the move through Virginia Beach! These nocturnal creatures are most common in the Tidewater region and love to eat fruit, seeds, nuts, insects, rodents and more! Video description: This video shows several videos of raccoons walking through a wooded area, walking over a beaver dam during the day and at night, and walking along a creek at night with its reflection in the water.

🌳Wildlife Wednesday - Thanksgiving Edition🌳 🦃Gobble Gobble🦃 🍁Enjoy this series of turkeys walking across a beaver dam, grazing in a field next to a lake and walking through a field. Video description: This video shows groups of turkeys walking across a beaver dam, grazing in a field next to a lake and walking through a field.

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳 📣Sound on to hear waterfowl being scared off by a bobcat! 🙀 Bobcats hunt waterfowl using their keen sight and acute hearing, stalking their prey before striking with a swift pounce! Video description: This video features a bobcat preying along a beaver dam with woods in the background. The Bobcat then pounces and waterfowl can be heard making sounds and flying away.

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳 🦌 Check out this fresh deer rub! 🍁This footage is from VBPR trail cams located at a protected nature preserve not accessible to the public. Video description: This Wildlife Wednesday video shows a tree trunk which has bark scraped off on the side from deer antlers. A deer with velvet antlers is shown in a field.

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳 🦫 Beavers live all across Virginia! They are the largest rodent in North America and are known for their skilled building of dams as seen in this video.  Video description: A Parks & Rec employee stands next to a beaver dam showing how the dam is made with mud, and sticks. Images shown include a pair of animal tracks, a stick with beaver teeth marks and details of mud and sticks that make up the dam.

🌳Wildlife Wednesday🌳 🐻 Watch as these black bears use the beaver dam as a natural crossing during the day and at night. 🍃Black bears are omnivores with more than 80% of their diet consisting of herbs, berries and vegetation. In Virginia Beach, they love to graze on berries, soybeans, acorns and the occasional bug or fish. 🐾 This is an important reminder of the wildlife that coexists around us! 🍁 This footage is from a VBPR trail cam located at a protected nature preserve not accessible to the public. Video description: This Wildlife Wednesday video features a black bear walking across a beaver dam during the daytime, followed by another video of a black bear walking across the same beaver dam at night.

🌳 Wildlife Wednesday 🌳 📸 Our trail cam recently captured young bobcats at play! As seen in the video, bobcats are excellent climbers and can run at speeds up to 30mph. They feed on rabbits, mice, squirrels and other small prey. These solitary animals are found across Virginia, and we love to see them on camera here in Virginia Beach! 🍁 This footage is from a VBPR trail cam located at a protected nature preserve not accessible to the public. Video description: This Wildlife Wednesday video features several bobcats at play. Two bobcats chase each other in a wooded area and run up a tree.

🌳 Wildlife Wednesday 🌳   🦦The North American river otter was spotted on camera!   🌾Thank you to the @vaaquarium for sharing fun facts about river otters that live around us!   Video description: This Wildlife Wednesday video starts with an otter close to the camera at night. In the next scene, a group of otters are seen running on a shoreline around a beaver dam and entering the water behind the dam.

🌳A special Wildlife Wednesday this week features all of the amazing animals that live around us in Virginia Beach sharing natures walkway, a beaver dam🌳 🦦This week we caught a group of otters on camera! Video description: This Wildlife Wednesday video is a compilation of different animals using the same walkway over a beaver dam at different times throughout the day.

🌳 Wildlife Wednesday🌳 📸 After months of waiting, we finally caught our elusive beaver on camera! 🦫 Check out this amazing video of a busy beaver working on its dam.   Video description: This video starts with a Parks & Rec staff member showing a beaver dam during the day. The next two videos show a beaver holding sticks in its mouth, working on building the dam at night.

🌳Happy Wildlife Wednesday! 🌳 🦃How many turkeys can you spot in this video? Let us know in the comments! Video description: This video shows a family of turkeys, including adults and young turkeys. They are walking in a forest along a creek.

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