East Beach is a planned community located off Shore Drive in the far eastern section of the Norfolk…read morebay front. The waterfronts it sits between are the Chesapeake Bay and Little Creek Inlet. The neighborhood has been in a continuous state of development since construction began in 2004. The City of Norfolk seized the land through Eminent Domain and demolished the existing houses in 1993. A beach replenishment was done in 2003 before construction began by the city's chosen developer. The "New Urbanist" style of the neighborhood is unique to the area. It's a beautiful neighborhood with a town square and walkway areas. The houses or cottages built in the central part of the neighborhood are on small urban style plots and are built close to the street with front porches and sidewalks. Many have detached garages with an apartment above. Alleys run behind the street for parking aesthetics. Golf Carts abound. There are larger stately houses and also houses closer to the Chesapeake Bay on larger plots of property with walking paths to the beach. My late husband and I were considering the purchase of one of the houses within a small number of steps from the Bay. It would have been the perfect location, since our boat was docked at Little Creek Marina along the Little Creek Inlet side of Pretty Lake Road,, the main entrance to the neighborhood. His cancer diagnosis immediately stopped that planned purchase. There has been continuous development since that time. High Rise Apartments/Condominiums with shops and restaurants were developed on the north side of Pretty Lake Road. After my husband's death I eventually sold the cabin cruiser, which was too large for me to get out of the slip. And boats should not have to be controlled by manipulating two engines. They're not like brakes. I loved sitting on the deck sipping wine and visiting with the fellow long time occupants of our pier, some of whom lived on their boats. But nor'easters and hurricanes terrified me since the area is prone to flooding. Wave action in one storm severed the dock line. I sold the boat. The memories of that time have been destroyed since East Beach bought and demolished most of the marinas on the Little Creek Inlet side of Pretty Lake Road. High Rise Condos with shops and restaurants on the ground floor are now being constructed. After eating at kSurf Rider East Beach I'll sometimes drive through the neighborhood remembering what might have been.

East Beach has quickly become one of my favorite spots, especially since it's so close to home. I…read moretake my dog, Lexi, here quite a bit, and it's the perfect place for long walks--especially now that the busy season is over. The beach is usually quiet with just a handful of people, which makes it such a peaceful escape. The views at sunset are beautiful, and it never feels crowded, which is a huge plus. It's also very clean and extremely dog-friendly, which makes it even better for us. Convenience is key, and being able to hop over here in just a few minutes is something I really appreciate. If you're looking for a calm, relaxing beach that's perfect for both people and pups, East Beach is definitely worth a

I apologize in advance for not taking more pictures.Mu son and I love this park. He goes more than…read moreI do to shoot hoops or simply ride his bike. I personally feel that it is safe for him to go alone. This park has plenty of parking, the grounds have always been kept super clean and o absolutely love that Northside Pool is located right in the middle of the park. We love to swim and lovely to have a indoor pool close to home

Really huge recreational area with monstrous shade trees throughout. it has swings for various…read morechildren's age, groups, and many jungle gym areas. There are lot of strategically placed benches. There is a large skate park. I'm not positive, but it may contain a swimming pool (locked today). It has a tennis court. The bathrooms were also locked. At 1PM today, April 18, 2025, it was a breezy 74°. It was a perfect day to watch grandchildren play.

Grommet Island Park is a well-frequented, moderate to large playground located at the VB Oceanfront…read moreat the start of the Boardwalk. It has a playground, raised sand trays, and sculptures kids can play on and take photo opps with. It is also an accessible park. The park is very clean overall. -- The Playground -- The playground area with soft foam flooring to minimize injuries (under the sand that got blown over it) is best for younger elementary school aged children. With close supervision it's also good for younger children (note that there are small gaps in the openings along the playground system). The equipment is in mostly good condition with small areas of wear. There are a variety of slides and ways to climb up and access the slides, along with monkey bars and climbing activities. There are also raised, connected walkways connecting the system of slides and a lookout point. The playground is in partial sun with some sections fully shaded by canopies (pictured). -- Benches & Pavilions -- There is one built in table with benches by the front of the playground. There are several benches along the perimeter of the playground. -- Walking Areas -- This is less of a park and more of a large playground situated on a beach. -- Sporting Equipment -- There are no other equipment options other than the playground. -- Amenities -- There are no toilet amenities at the playground, but there are restrooms with plumbing located very close by: 2nd Street Restrooms, which has year-round operation and is managed by the City. -- Parking -- There is a municipal parking lot close by--2nd Street Parking Lot--where any visitors can park for a fee. The next closest lot is Rudee Loop Parking Lot (also a municipal parking lot with a fee). Both are located on Atlantic Ave. There is limited meter parking, too. Visitors to the area staying at the Oceanfront could also walk there. -- Things to Note -- During peak seasonal times, it's usually pretty busy with kids. There is no fence or physical boundary between the park and the water, but it is situated well enough away from the water that it didn't pose an immediate safety concern. -- Takeaways -- This is an large, accessible playground that is a nice option for my toddler when we visit the Boardwalk, and I can see it appealing to families visiting the beach who have kids with varying interests. The main attraction is its playground. If you are at the Boardwalk, it's worth a visit for children. It might not be worth it to you to go out of your way if you don't intend to visit the ocean or Boardwalk, too, or if you aren't interested in its accessibility features. Simply because paying for parking at the Oceanfront and sand in the kids shoes' could be a few minor drawbacks.

Lovely playground at the beginning of the VA Beach boardwalk. This was a great find on a red flag…read morebeach day. The equipment is clean, not new but good enough. Space to run around and bathrooms right across the way. Lots of fun musical elements, multiple slides, and climbing features.

This is a pretty decent park, especially for a Navy base. There's a lot of shade from the tall…read moretrees, which helps a lot during the summer. I came here for a command picnic and a lot of near bay commands to the same. There are swings and a playground for kids; also covered mostly by shade, which is good. There are plenty of tables and a canopy. The lot itself is a decent size to spread out. There is a little water park across the street, so if that sound good, there is always that option to walk over. Parking is ok but if you can't find any, there is plenty within walking distance. Overall not bad.

Great option to avoid the crowds, more of a residential beach with lots of cute beach cottages and…read morebungalows. Neighborhood street parking is available and limited, just be sure to pay attention to posted signage. We had an absolutely lovely day at the beach, there is a grocery near by on the main drag for snacks and beverages, there are no public bathrooms available at this beach.

This might have turned out to be 5 stars if I didn't go on one of the first weekends after COVID19…read morerestrictions ended, but I have to say 4 stars because gahhh it was crowded! All the reviews (during normal (pre-covid19) life, of course) were positive about parking and it being quiet, but we drove all the way to the end near the Ft Story gate before we even saw the first parking spot. It was insane how many people were there! We had to kind of squeeze into a spot on the beach with people to our right and left, crazy! But, honestly, it didn't matter! Other than being inconvenient, the whole experience was great. There were waves, unlike in the bay, and a gentle slope of sand into the water, so it was more safe for my son. The sand was nice, the people were nice, it was just great all around. Also, one of my favorite parts of this area is how close it is to the channel that goes by... so you get to see tons of ships and boats go by. It was like watching a water highway, loved it!

A nice park with a playground, ball field, restrooms and a lot of room to just let your energetic…read morekids run around. There is plenty of parking close to the restroom area. On the surface the park was clean, off to the side area debris was present. Also present was homeless who evidently make Beach Garden Park their home. No one approached us, but since it was during the day most of the residents were probably out and an about. This would NOT be a place to be after dark. You will also experience what I liked best at this park. The view of the high rise hotels on Atlantic Ave. is sweet. Since this was my first time at this park I really did not know what to expect, but really loved the location and rolling hill as you enter the grounds. Come check this scenic park out, but not recommended in small groups after dark due to the homeless population.

A good place to walk after spending time at the local crowded beach area which is only a few…read morehundred feet away. Also, it's large enough to have big groups for a picnic or for a pick up game of softball. A kids' playground is present for the little ones to jump, play, and move about. Secluded and a few minutes walk from major tourist stops like restaurants, shops, and supermarkets, and despite the proximity to some roads, the place is quiet. It's a place you can just take a break and take in the environment and chill. There were very few people out there when we walked there this morning. A really nice thing is the overlook in which you can see where the water and coast meet. In the water, you can see jellyfish and small fish swimming in the water. There are indeed homeless folks here resting under the gazebos, but I only saw a few out there. My family and I felt safe there, and my family has walked in the park a dozen times in the mornings. Will definitely come back to bring a blanket and a book or when I want a break from the crowded beach.

Nice toddler and children park, it's well kept, trash cans, picnic tables, boat launch , lots of…read moreswings, lots of grass area for children to run. Porta potty on site. Ample parking . I have been here several times and it's never crowded, usually only on or two other families. We really like this park! Just wish there was an actual bathroom . Update: park is open. Park was empty besides park workers taking their lunch break in the parking lot. No children at the playground. Park is still well kept. Park is not covered so depending on time of day, the sun beats down intensely. Picnic tables are accessible, drinking fountain is also available as well as a spot to refill your water bottle. They have a small area to exercise on the metal bars provided. Two porta potties on site. The side trail is somewhat overgrown now covering some of the path, luckily there are plenty of branches that can be used as a walking stick to move the overgrown shrubs out of the way.

I love it here! I…read morehaven't visited this park in years. And I must say, when I visited last I do not remember it looking as it did when I visited about a month ago. I toured the park on an early evening during the week. I am looking to host an event here soon and figured I'd check it out first before reserving. One must contact Parks & Rec to reserve the shelters located here. There is a huge shelter towards the back of the park that looks to be perfect for a party size of 100 or less. The park is beautiful. There is a body of water in which one can sit or stand and enjoy the views. Super quiet and I love it. There is also an area in which one can exercise by following the posted exercises in a sand pit. I love this feature! There is a playground for the younger and older children. Swings are even featured here! I love the swings :) This park isn't super huge but I think it's a great size and you are lucky if you are the only one renting a shelter... it's small enough to feature an intimate setting... like a private party but you only rented one shelter. Parking seems decent. I think 20 cars can fit into the parking lot without worry but if more start to show up, this could be a problem. I am not sure if overflow parking is nearby. There is a narrow street leading to the park so one may be able to park on one side of the street... if not...not sure what the back up plan is. I'd say there are plenty of trees at this park so shaded areas are definitely present. At least one grill is located near each of the three shelters. I'd recommend you visit this hidden jewel in Chesapeake. I'm looking forward to returning soon. Have fun and enjoy life :)

Beautiful! This…read morespot is a hidden gem that locals kinda of know about and pass the word when in conversation. Thant is how I came about it. It is a great spot to visit and walk the beach. When I was there swimming was not going to be an activity. There was a lot of debris in the water, and the waves were a little much. It was nice to sit and enjoy a snack. This beach has a lot more nature to explore. A lot of people come here to walk the beach and/or run it seems. The path is really well maintained. Parking is located on the street. Follow the posted signs, and you should not have any problem. It is pretty quiet and peaceful. The walk to the beach is maybe 10 minutes. The path is wide and easy to navigate. If you're lucky you may come across some wildlife.

Beautiful and a must see…read more Has a private entrance towards the water and you walk through nature trail to get there wonderful spot for families not too crowded