Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Announces Updates to Kids Cove at Mount Trashmore Park

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation will begin a $1.6 million renovation project at the Kids Cove area of Mount Trashmore Park in January 2024. Part of the renovations will include a 3,200-square-foot extension of park amenities to Kids Cove.

This project will incorporate new play equipment including hillside slides, climbers, nets with safety surfacing creating the connection to Kids Cove. The new play area is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“Since opening in 1973, Mount Trashmore Park continues to be an iconic staple of the Virginia Beach community and we are excited to bring new updates to Kids Cove and enhance environmentally friendly amenities,” said Michael Kirschman, director of VBPR. “These new updates will enhance the overall play experience for children and provide a fun way for children to climb and slide down the hillside.”

Construction will also include the removal of the timber stairs which contain the temporary “Helping Hands” mural art completed by Aimee Bruce in 2018, located on the South Boulevard side of the park. These stairs will be replaced with a new set of concrete stairs and relocated closer to Kids Cove. The timber stairs near the Special Events Building/Water Wise Garden will be removed and replaced in the same location with concrete. Both sets of stairs are beyond their useful life and the timber treads have been deteriorating and becoming a safety concern.

The project is expected to be completed by late Summer of 2024 by contractor, Conrad Brothers.

Mount Trashmore Park is the most popular park in Virginia Beach with 67% of residents visiting each year. Mount Trashmore encompasses 165 acres of land, is 60 feet tall, and made of compacted layers of solid waste and clean soil.

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation strives to promote healthy lifestyles and protect the City's coastal environment, as well as to ensure all residents – regardless of their physical, social and economic circumstances – can access Parks & Recreation programs. The department's vision is to be the national leader in providing enriching and memorable lifelong experiences. Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is the 2023 National Gold Medal Award winner for excellence in Parks and Recreation Management in the Class I category by the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA, the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association.