Virginia Beach, Va. (WTKR) - The Sandbridge community of Virginia Beach has grown over the years, bringing more visitors to the southernmost beaches of the city.
Recently, the Sandbridge Beach Civic League asked Virginia Beach in a letter from President Joan Davis to increase the number of lifeguards along the 5 miles of beaches.
Davis says improvements to the area, including additional parking and new beach access points are drawing more visitors to the area.
Those improvements she wrote "insured our survival and growth well into the future" but also prompted Virginia Beach and the Sandbridge Beach Civic League to work together to ensure there are enough lifeguards.
"Lots more people. It's very crowded down here. And for safety we have just requested some additional lifeguard stands," Davis told NewsChannel 3's Todd Corillo.
Virginia Beach EMS officials tell NewsChannel 3 that they currently staff 4 lifeguards in the northern section of Sandbridge near the Marketplace and 10 lifeguards in the southern portion near Little Island park.
That's in additional to several supervisors.
In the sections in between, a lifeguard supervisor on ATV patrols the beach.
"It would be nice to have other coverage for full lifeguard stands in between that for the visitors that are unfamiliar with the currents that we have," Davis said.
EMS officials have already reconfigured one lifeguard stand near Little Island Park to maximize coverage area and say they're continuing to work with the civic league.
"The City has been fabulous in helping us with everything that we've ever asked for, especially when it comes to the safety of the citizens of Virginia Beach," Davis said.
Lifeguards go on duty in Sandbridge starting Saturday morning and are there 7-days a week through Labor Day.
