Home of the Neptune Statue, Virginia Aquarium, and the Something in the Water Festival, the Virginia Beach Oceanfront hosts 14 million visitors a year, according to WHRO; however, citizen engagement is significantly low. Residents can dine and shop, but what other activities are available? Not much. As of September, the city is working to change that.
On September 10th, 2024, Virginia Beach City Council announced that it would allocate $60 million towards the development of Rudee Loop Park, an eight-acre piece of land located at the southernmost tip of the Oceanfront near Rudee Inlet. City Council additionally announced that Dills Architects would head the project in coordination with EDSA Resort Parks and Hospitality, SCAPE Waterfront Parks and Resilience, BRV Revenue Planning, The Miles Agency for public engagement, and Sussex for cost and constructability.
Dills Architects owner Clay Dills told News 3 that the company is committed to the city’s mission of keeping the park public and is devoted to making the loop accessible.
“This is a public place for the entire city of Virginia Beach, so I think that’s our first message to everyone,” said Dills. “That’s a big deal and a big commitment from a really strong leadership to do this as a public place rather than another development.”
Regarding the park’s design, Dills and his team are continuing to seek input on whether to include natural or urban elements. Locals can complete a survey to share their opinions, but Dills is particularly taking into consideration the ideas of one specific age group: teenagers.
The team of architects is traveling to each one of the city’s public high schools where a select group of students will provide feedback and discuss their aspirations for the park’s future. On December 16th, the team made their way to Salem.
“It felt really nice to be included in the decision-making process,” said junior Mirabelle Malone, one of the students chosen to meet with Dills and the contractors. “As a teen, it feels really hard to be involved in the decision-making process for our community. I really loved that they made the effort to come out and ask their opinions, especially because, being teens, we can offer a perspective that they d
o not see on the regular.”
When the students entered the room, Dills presented them with seven different presentation boards titled “Open Green Space and Recreation,” “Water Access,” “Play,” “Events,” “Culture and Art,” “Access and Amenities,” and “What Do You Want the Park to Look Like?”
Students were then given dot stickers and asked to place one on the picture they liked the most for each board. Glancing at the stickers after the end of the activity, it was evident which options were most favored. Most of the students surveyed preferred a natural, active green space rather than an urban, large-scale environment.
“I definitely prefer a more natural area,” said junior Lolo Elmquist, another student who was asked to provide input on the loop. “We have so much urbanization in Virginia Beach, so to have somewhere where people can hang out, have picnics, and walk their dogs would be nice to have amongst the crazy, loud city.”
Although Elmquist’s sentiments represent the majority of survey results, other city residents prefer to have more of an immersive park experience. Over 1300 respondents reported the need for more entertainment, and approximately 900 respondents reported the desire for a performance stage.
“I really enjoy the concerts here as a whole because it is a unique experience at the Oceanfront,” said junior Reese Willliams, an avid concertgoer.
With Veteran United Home Loans Amphitheater being the sole venue for high-profile artists, in addition to The Dome which is set to open this spring, some residents explain that developing the park for entertainment purposes will increase revenue and attract more concertgoers.
“It is definitely a good idea to build a bigger center for concerts because it would be awesome to have bigger artists come to Virginia Beach,” said Williams. “It would be nice to spread the art of music. The only thing that would not be beneficial is the parking. The roads would be clogged.”
The city of Virginia Beach is undoubtedly looking forward to the final development plans that will be presented by Dills and his team this spring, as many citizens have their own visions for the park. Elmquist, for example, wants Rudee Loop to radiate the feel of a “small and secluded beach town.”
“[There could be] smaller shops on one side, but the rest [could] be more of a locals’ hangout with benches and paths to walk. [There could be] a pond where there can be recreational activities like tennis courts and open fields where people can get together and have a good time.”
Regardless of Dills’ final proposal, the development of Rudee Loop Park, an obsolete, semi-abandoned parking lot transformed into a coastal haven that fosters community, will revolutionize the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The city will generate increased revenue, but more importantly, the park will serve as a welcoming place for locals of all ages, which is something that everyone deserves. For more information, visit the city’s website to see a projected timeline and next steps.
