Great Neck Planning Area Current Reality The Great Neck Planning area is characterized primarily by large lot/lowdensity residential development with the majority of recreational opportunity existing as neighborhood parks or homeowner association property. In addition, the presence of scenic tidal waterways such as Broad Bay, Linkhorn Bay and the many tributaries of the Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven River provide for unique open space view sheds and opportunities for water access in Great Neck. Also, opportunities for additional open space preservation as part of the ongoing real estate acquisition process associated with the implementation of the Oceana Land Use Conformity Plan within the Great Neck Planning Area. The table below provides the 2000 census population as well as the theoretical build-out population for Great Neck, estimated in the City s 2003 Comprehensive Plan. Year Census Year - 2000 35,075 Percent Change Theoretical Build-Out Year - 2026 46,046 31% While the proportion of growth projection figures cited above are generally correct, sole reliance should not be used for determinations of specific facility demand. Great Neck Planning Area is geographically bound by Broad Bay, Lynnhaven Bay and Long Creek to the north; Interstate 264 to the south; Linkhorn Bay to the east; and the Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven River to the west. As mentioned above, significant features that are uniquely located in Great Neck that affect the City s planning for outdoor recreation in that planning area include: First Landing State Park Chesapeake Bay public beaches Access to Lynnhaven River, Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay Major Homeowners Association/Private Parks and Recreation Amenities as well as the presence of Broad Bay Point Greens Country Club and Cavalier Golf Course and Yacht Club Large-lot residential areas Recreation associates, such as the Great Neck Recreation Association, provide outdoor athletic programming opportunities t o area youth. The results of community involvement, statistical analysis, and equity mapping completed for the planning area, explained on the forthcoming pages, applied to the unique circumstances of Great Neck served as the primary drivers for the overall open space and outdoor planning recommendations that are provided at the end of this section. 39 Great Neck Metro Park
Open Space/Parkland Statistical Analysis Open Space/Parkland Statistical Analysis - The table below applies the City s new park designation service standards to the planning area s 2000 census population as well as the projected theoretical build-out for the year 2026. The analysis includes park designations that can be located within relatively small geographic areas, such as planning areas. For example, three park designation standards are not applied to planning area analysis because they are larger in size and/or have a unique site characteristic that provides more of a citywide recreational opportunity. For example, Signature Parks, Natural Areas and Linkages (i.e. trails that transcend planning area boundaries) are not applied to the planning area analysis but are applied to the citywide statistical analysis provided in the Capital Improvement Program Impact section of this plan. Consequently, the planning area statistical standard for parkland/open space is 11 acres/1,000 residents while the city-wide statistical standard for parkland/open space is 16 acres/1,000 residents. Note: The statistical analysis is only one tool in determining service area gaps. Site Type and Virginia Beach Standard Neighborhood Parks.25-15 2.0 /1,000 Park Standard Applied to 2000 and 56.66 Existing 70.15 Standard Park Acreage Results for 2000 Need 13.49 Park Standard Applied to 2026 and 56.66 Existing 92.10 Standard Park Acreage Results for 2026 Need 35.44 Community Parks 15-50 3.0 /1,000 15.13 Existing 105.22 Standard Need 90.09 15.13 Existing 138.14 Standard Need 123.01 Metro Parks 50-100 3.0 /1,000 70.2 Existing 105.22 Standard Need 35.02 70.2 Existing 138.14 Standard Need 67.94 General Open Space 1.0 Acre/1,000 29.24 Existing 35.07 Standard Need 5.83 29.24 Existing 46.05 Standard Need 16.81 Special Use Facility 1.0 Acre/1,000 8.3 Existing 35.07 Standard Need 26.77 8.3 Existing 46.05 Standard Need 37.25 School Parks 1.0 Acre/1,000 23.56 Existing 35.07 Standard Need 11.51 23.56 Existing 46.05 Standard Need 22.50 Total Park 11.0 /1,000 203.09 Existing 385.83 Standard Need 182.74 203.09 Existing 506.5 Standard Need 303.41 2000 Total Park Analysis for Planning Area Homeowners * Association Property Need 182.74 2026 Total Analysis for Planning Area Need 303.41 40.27 Existing + 40.27 40.27 Existing + 40.27 * Homeowners Association (HOA) Property are not counted toward meeting the public park and open space need because they are not accessible to all Virginia Beach residents. However, HOA should be considered as recreational assets for the residents of the planning area that have legal access to them. 40
Outdoor Recreational Asset Statistical Analysis Outdoor Recreational Amenity Statistical Analysis - Similar to the Open Space/Parkland Statistical Analysis, the table below applies the City s outdoor recreational site type service standards that are unique to Virginia Beach to the planning area s 2000 census population as well as the projected theoretical build-out for the year 2026. Note: The statistical analysis is only one tool in determining service area gaps. Asset Type and Virginia Beach Standard Tennis 1 Court/5,000 Outdoor Basketballs 1 Court/2,500 Playgrounds 1 Site/2,000 Asset Standard Applied to 2000 and 38 Existing 7 Standard 24 Existing 14 Standard 21 Existing 17 Standard Asset Results for 2000 Surplus 31 Surplus 10 Surplus 4 Asset Standard Applied to 2026 and 38 Existing 9 Standard 24 Existing 12 Standard 21 Existing 23 Standard Asset Results for 2026 Surplus 29 Surplus 6 Need 2 Picnic Pavilions 1 Site/2,500 22 Existing 14 Standard Surplus 8 22 Existing 18 Standard Surplus 4 Baseball 200' Outfield 1 /3,125 13 Existing 11 Standard Surplus 2 13 Existing 15 Standard Need 2 Baseball 300' Outfield 1 /18,000 3 Existing 2 Standard Surplus 1 3 Existing 3 Standard Softball (Youth Competitive) 1 /5,000 Softball (Adult Competitive) 1 /18,000 11 Existing 7 Standard 1 Existing 2 Standard Surplus 4 Need 1 11 Existing 9 Standard 1 Existing 3 Standard Surplus 2 Need 2 Soccer (Youth/Competitive/Practice) 1 /4,000 9 Existing 9 Standard 9 Existing 12 Standard Need 3 Soccer (Regulation/Competitive) 1 /6,000 9 Existing 6 Standard Surplus 3 9 Existing 8 Standard Surplus 1 Football (Competitive/Practice) 1 /6,000 9 Existing 6 Standard Surplus 3 9 Existing 8 Standard Surplus 1 Lacrosse/ Hockey 1 /50,000 0 Existing 0 Standard 0 Existing 0 Standard Dog Parks 1 Site/50,000 Skate Parks (Inline, Skateboard, BMX) 1 Site/50,000 0 Existing 0 Site Standard 0 Existing 0 Site Standard 0 Existing 0 Standard 0 Existing 0 Standard 41
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Ten-Minute Walk Zone Analysis The following map depicts walkable service areas based upon a ten-minute walk, based on a three mile-perhour walking pace, to parks in the Great Neck Planning Area. Areas highlighted in green are within a ten minute walk of a park utilizing the City s existing rights-of-way, showing areas that are currently served by City parks and areas that require additional focus of resources. The walk-zone analysis is much more practical of a service area analysis as opposed to the typical distance circle-radius service area buffers because they account for physical barriers such as Virginia Beach s many waterways and areas without roadways which cannot be crossed or otherwise accessed. Great Neck Road Wide Sidewalk - An asphalt shared-use pathway now extends along the entire length of London Bridge Road to the wide sidewalk along Great Neck Road, over the Long Creek bridge, and eventually connects to the Cape Henry Trail in the adjoining Bayfront Planning Area. The pathway and sidewalk connect Great Neck residents to several community destinations such as schools, parks, and neighborhood shopping centers. 43
Bikeways and Trails System - According to the City s adopted Bikeways and Trails Plan, the following bikeways and trails system initiatives either existing or are recommended for implementation: First Colonial Road Shared-Use Pathway Provide connections in current sidewalk/pathway gaps between Laskin Rd. and Great Neck Rd., especially on north side between Mill Dam & Great Neck Roads. Birdneck Road Shared Use Pathway This is a proposed pathway along the east side of the roadway between General Booth Boulevard and Norfolk Avenue. 44
Great Neck Recommendations The recommendations provided below reflect a thorough consideration of the community priorities obtained through the public involvement process, Open Space/Parkland and Outdoor Recreational Amenity Statistical Analysis, and equity mapping analysis. The recommendations, starting with the Trails priorities provided on the preceding Bikeways and Trails System Map, are organized by outdoor recreational system components as denoted by the icons on the right side of the page below. The Capital Improvement Program Impact of these recommendations are summarized along with all of the other recommendations at the end of the Plan. Washington Square This is a neighborhood where there is currently a park walkable service area gap. There is an undeveloped property nearby where there is an opportunity to acquire and develop a new neighborhood park site. Wolfsnare Pit In order to address the Great Neck Planning Area open space need and City-wide athletic field need it is recommended that the end use of the City-owned Wolfsnare Pit site be designated for recreation as a potential Metro Park or Special Use Athletic Facility for limited park and athletic field development. Oceana Land Use Conformity Plan Coordinate open space and compatible recreational uses as part of the Oceana Land Use Conformity Plan area. Acquisitions should be evaluated to address existing park walkable service area gaps in the south part of Great Neck. Preservation of Mill Dam General Open Space Site Preserve City-owned, wooded open space along east side of First Colonial Road while also providing a low-impact shared-use pathway connection between Mill Dam and Great Neck Roads. Preservation of Residual City Land and Right-of-Way Preserve existing Cityowned land parallel to roadways, such as surrounding the Great Neck Road Long Creek bridge and pursue limited recreational improvements in these areas where appropriate. Public Access to and from Lynnhaven River Provide additional opportunities for public access to Lynnhaven River considering residual City-owned waterfront property and other sites. An opportunity to provide enhanced access to the Lynnhaven River may be to partner with the Commonwealth of Virginia at First Landing State Park s existing 64th Street waterway access. 45