Underground Tank Plans for Skate Park Top
On Monday (June 3), Virginia Beach, Virginia-based Woodstock Park closed its doors to visitors for the installation of a 5.2-million-gallon underground wastewater storage tank, slated to be topped with a new 20,000-square-foot skate park.
The total budget for the project is $32 million split between Hampton Roads and Sanitation District and Virginia Beach’s Parks and Recreation.
The Plan
The Virginian-Pilot reports that in late 2017, a project overview was first provided to nearby civic leagues. By April 22 of this year, HRSD and the city held an open house about the project, revealing no major concerns.
According to HRSD spokesperson Leila Rice, the up-to 50-year-old wastewater piping suffers from defects, which allow infiltration and induces heavier loads on the system. Currently, the existing tank holds diluted wastewater until it can be pumped back into the system. However, having a larger tank would prove critical to handling heavy rains.
After studying several potential sites for the new tank, the agency settled on a shared location at Woodstock Park. Since Virginia Beach is providing the land for the underground tank, in exchange for the long-term land easement, HRSD has agreed to pay for the skatepark as well as additional parking and paved roadways within the park. However, once construction has commenced, Parks and Recreation will solely own and operate the skate park.
Building of an underground wastewater tank topped with new skate park to close Woodstock Park https://t.co/g2Wgpy2ACr
— josephbotsch (@josephbotsch) May 28, 2019
Though the view of the tank from within the park will depend on the viewers angle, the 200-foot-long, 165-foot-wide and 25-foot-deep tank isn’t expected to be seen from any nearby houses.
“It’s a good location and meets HRSD’s needs so it’s a win-win for everybody,” spokesperson for Parks and Recreation, Julie Braley said.
In addition, the city will also be providing about $2 million in upgraded park amenities. Various components, including the weight of the skate park, plan to be factored into the park’s design.
After the fast-track design/build process of the tank is underway, a workshop with skate park designer Team Pain is expected to take place some time in October. Design and feedback meetings are expected to follow sometime in the winter. For those interested in the date, time and location of the skate park’s design meetings, visit the Parks and Recreation website, vbgov.com/parks.
According to the City of Virginia Beach’s website, groundbreaking for the tank is slated to begin this summer with skate park construction beginning in fall 2020.
The park is expected to reopen by summer 2021.
