Accessibility
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation offers accessible amenities for visitors with varying abilities to access and enjoy our parks and recreation centers.
Our inclusion support staff are available to make reasonable accommodations so that recreational activities and programs are accessible to everyone. Interpreters are also available upon request.
Accessible Rec Amenities
- Therapeutic recreation space is available at Kempsville Recreation Center.
- Use of adapted equipment.
- Adaptations to program games/activities.
- Behavior management charts/individualized techniques.
- Use of visual aids.
- Partial participation.
Accessible Pool Amenities
- All recreation center pools are ADA compliant with steps, handrails, pool lift, and ladder for entry.
- Zero-depth entry pools are available at Bow Creek, Kempsville, and Williams Farm.
- An accessible pool ramp is available at Bow Creek, Princess Anne, and Williams Farm.
- Submersible water wheelchairs are available at Bow Creek, Kempsville, Princess Anne, and Williams Farm.
- Aqua-Step ADA is a removable set of stairs to help with entry and exit out of the water and is available at the competition pool at Kempsville Recreation Center.
Outdoor Park Amenities
Grommet Island Park - a fully-accessible park located on the beach that features wheelchair-accessible entrances and an incredible playground that includes poured-in-place surfacing, raised sand tables for sandcastle building at an accessible height, a sensory board for children who are autistic and visually impaired, a sway boat.
The playground also boasts sculptural features such as dolphins, a surfboard, and a wave that are all fully accessible for children to pretend to ride the waves and swim with the dolphins. Wood polymer decking extends from the playground to accessible seating areas with an umbrella and hand-operated sand scoop designed to be used by a person in a wheelchair, allowing everyBODY to play in the sand.
Kids Cove at Mount Trashmore Park is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is barrier-free to accommodate all children. The playground also features an all-new, one-of-a-kind wheelchair swing.
Beach Wheelchairs are FREE to use (available on a first come first serve). To reserve a wheelchair, please see a parking attendant located at the 2nd Street/Grommet Island Park Handicap Center or Little Island Park office. *From November through April or if an attendant is unavailable, please call (757) 385-1100 to make a reservation.
ADA-accessible Kayak Launches and Canoe Entry are available at Lake Lawson, Stumpy Lake, and Carolanne Farms. The equipment allows moving from a wheelchair into and out of a kayak or canoe by arm strength.
Accessible Trails
Therapeutic recreation offers programs for children, teens, and adults with disabilities that include, but are not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, Down syndrome, learning disability, mild to profound intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, hard of hearing, visual or physical disability.