Mount Trashmore Park

This article is about the Virginia Beach site. For other uses of the term, see Mount Trashmore (disambiguation).

"Mount Trashmore" in Virginia Beach

Mount Trashmore Park, also known simply as Mount Trashmore, is a city park located in Virginia Beach, Virginia which opened in 1974,^[1] Mount Trashmore is an example of landfill reuse as its creation consisted of the conversion of an abandoned landfill into a park. The park spans 165 acres (0.67 km²) with hills over 60 feet (18 m) high, over 800 feet (240 m) long. Facilities include four large and 11 small picnic shelters, playground areas, a basketball court, four volleyball areas, parking, vending machines and restrooms. Mount Trashmore Park also has multiple walking trails - a Perimeter Trail that measures 1.95 miles (3.14 km), a Lake Trail that measures 1.45 miles (2.33 km), and a Mountain Trail that measures 1.30 miles (2.09 km). The Lake Trail and the Hill Trail may be combined for a trail measuring 2.75 miles (4.43 km). The park also features two lakes where fishing is permitted. Since its opening in the 1970s, it ranks as the most popular park in Virginia Beach, with attendance of over one million visitors a year.^[2]

Mount Trashmore Skate Park is located in the northeast corner of the park, where numerous professional skateboarders have made appearances, including Tony Hawk.^[3] The 24,000-square-foot (2,200 m²) skate park opened in August 2003 features an extensive street course including an above-ground, 7-foot-deep (2.1 m) bowl.^[4] The park also has a competition-sized vert ramp over 13 feet (4.0 m) tall and 40 feet (12 m) wide. On 16 August 2006, a fire damaged a significant portion of the skate park.^[5] The skate park was completely rebuilt as of March 2007.

The park is open 7 days a week from 7:30 a.m. until sunset. It was built in 1978.

WNOR's 1992 April 1st report warned that a large build-up of methane gas was about to cause a fiery explosion at Mount Trashmore. Residents were warned to evacuate the area, causing the local 911 to be flooded with calls. The DJs responsible for the prank were suspended without pay for two weeks.

Kids' Cove

"Kids' Cove" playground at Mount Trashmore Park

The "new" Kids' Cove playground opened in 2010

Kids' Cove, an innovative playground designed for children using children's ideas and input, is also located at Mount Trashmore Park, and opened in 1993. The playground which is handicapped accessible, was constructed totally by volunteers and coordinated by the Virginia Beach Jr. Woman's Club.^[4]

A new, $1.4 million Kids Cove reopened to the public in December 2010. The new playground is nearly twice the size of its predecessor. ^[6]

Notes

1. ^ "Mount Trashmore Park" (PDFre). City of Virginia Beach. http://www.vbgov.com/file_source/dept/parks/Projects-parks_and_landscape_services/facilities/Document/MountTrashmoreBrochure.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-19. 
2. ^ Garrow, Hattie Brown (2007-03-01), "Trashmore has million(.35) reasons to celebrate", The Virginian-Pilot, http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=120328&ran=12814, retrieved 2007-10-05 
3. ^ Whelan, Paul (2006-07-06), "The birdman cometh - Tony Hawk", Richmond Times-Dispatch 
4. ^ ^{a b} Mt. Trashmore Park, Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation, http://vbgov.com/vgn.aspx?vgnextoid=aea92f9eb644c010VgnVCM1000006310640aRCRD&vgnextchannel=944ac67a3e83b010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD&vgnextparchannel=dfee54cf18ad9010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD, retrieved 2010-06-19 
5. ^ Bourne, Dwayne (2006-08-17), "Fire damages skateboard park at Mount Trashmore", The Virginian-Pilot, http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=109374&ran=212362, retrieved 2007-10-05 
6. ^ http://hamptonroads.com/2010/12/new-mount-trashmore-playground-opens-today?cid=srch

External links

• City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Page
• Hamptonroads.com Parks Page
• Mount Trashmore Virginia Beach Attraction and Landmark
• Virginia Beach Mount Trashmore

Coordinates: 36°49′52″N 76°07′24″W / 36.8310°N 76.1232°W / 36.8310; -76.1232