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Keep Buckroe attractive for all

January 18 2007

The Hampton City Council has now been given the opportunity in its Jan. 24 meeting to help the Buckroe Beach area reach its fullest potential. As a person who has visited Buckroe many times in the past - and would like to continue to do so in the future - I would like to present a point that needs to be given more weight.

Buckroe continues to attract more than 250,000 visitors annually. By making improvements that would be beneficial both to visitors and residents, that number would certainly be increased. A Buckroe that has multiple attractions and offers a wider range of activities in addition to the beach will encourage visitors to spend more time and money there as well as in other parts of the city. By reducing the size of the park, and limiting the number of parking spaces to barely satisfy usage figures for past years, Hampton would be limiting the future potential of this area. I urge the City Council not to create a situation of conflict between residents and visitors by taking away the large parking lot. If it is closed and the "B" lots are developed, visitors will park in front of both new and previously existing residences. To compensate for this problem, large portions of the remaining park area will likely be paved over, creating a further loss in park acreage.

An improved park and a revitalized commercial area on Buckroe Avenue, along with sufficient parking for future needs and some development on land the city already owns other than the "B" lots, would make Buckroe an even greater attraction for the city.

Adrian Whitcomb
Newport News

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More information can be found on the website http://www.buckroebeach.org/

Lots B – The former Buckroe Amusement Park site

"be the change you want to see in the world"

-- Ghandi

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE LOTS B AT BUCKROE BEACH

The Hampton City Council will take a

FINAL VOTE on January 24.

A VOTE FOR OPTION D-1 SAVES LOTS B FOR THE PUBLIC

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

MOST IMPORTANT -- Every Hampton resident who wants Buckroe's Lots B saved as a city park MUST show up for the Hampton City Council meeting, Jan 24, 8th Floor, Hampton City Hall, 7:30 pm
Bring children with Frisbees and/or footballs. Council members are parents and grandparents and seeing children in attendance who want a park should have an impact on the way Council votes
FORWARD THIS EMAIL for action to your friends and family! Do this today
Call Council at 727-6315 or send e-mail to council@hampton.gov and express your support for OPTION D-1. Do this before Jan 24
Send a Letter to the Editor of the Daily Press at letters@dailypress.com. Do this today
Wear an OPTION D-1 sign at the Council meeting on Jan 24 – make your own or pick one up at the meeting
Place an OPTION D-1 sign in your car window until Jan 24
Become better informed. To view Lots B and OPTION D-1 and for more details, visit www.buckroebeach.org

Citizen turnout at the Hampton City Council meeting on January 24 is 'critical' for the future of public space at Buckroe Beach. The evening will be long. Hopefully, your sacrificing an evening at Hampton City Hall to show your support for Option D-1 will be the one thing that will make a difference in Council’s vote.

Our personal message to you:

Lots B are the former sites of the Buckroe Beach Amusement Park and are the last near Bay Front property in Hampton owned totally by the public. Original plans did call for Lots B to be sold to developers for private residential housing. However, we have been working over the last two years to save Lots B for public use and to add them to the existing Buckroe Park where the Buckroe Pavilion sits.

Over 12,000 Hampton residents signed the petition to "Stop the Condos at Buckroe," and over 400 citizens "voted" for Option D/D-1 in the recent city-sponsored public opinion survey. Council has seen your signatures, but now they must see you in person on Jan 24.

Not big on public speaking? You do not have to address Council, but we will ask those present to stand in a show of support.

It has been said that upscale residential development on Lots B will revitalize the older Buckroe neighborhood. If this is the case, why didn't Morningview, Cantamar, Chesapeake Landing, and the Salt Ponds development achieve this?

It has been argued that Hampton needs the revenue from the sale of Lots B to pay for new schools, etc. There has not been a new school built in the city for 30 years; why should it happen at the expense of the public's last and only near Bay Front property?

Our goal is to keep Buckroe's public space public. Working together now and showing up on Jan 24 will make a difference. Check out www.buckroebeach.org for more information on Option D-1.

Thank You,

Green Space Ladies (GSL)

Sandra Canepa, Trish Ferraro, Cecile Trevathan

The Buckroe Bay Front -- a "Sanctuary for the Spirit" and the "Family Room" of our city , "...a room meant for play and relaxation" for all people. --GSL