VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — About a year ago, WTKR first reported on plans to turn the former Bayside 6th Grade Campus in Virginia Beach into a neighborhood park. Now, a year later, residents are still waiting to see the property’s future take shape.
Lorraine Samko has lived in Aragona Village for more than 30 years. She said the neighborhood, which has nearly 3,000 homes, has long been missing a permanent park.
“This is our one shot,” Samko said.
The former Bayside 6th Grade Campus is no longer being used by students. Last year, the Virginia Beach School Board voted to give the surplus property to the city, with the eventual goal of turning it into a park.
Since then, the City Council and School Board have been working on a nonbinding term sheet outlining what will happen with the property.
School Board Chair Kathleen Brown said the property was originally gifted to the school division and that officials are now working to return it to the community.
The term sheet, which was approved by the school board on Tuesday, calls for the school division to oversee demolition of the former school building. Parking areas and sidewalks would remain on the property.
The agreement would not set a deadline for the construction of park amenities. However, demolition would be required to begin within one year of City Council approval of the term sheet.
Samko said the park would provide nearby outdoor space for residents.
“Now so many more people need to have a place where they can go close by that they can go to and enjoy the outdoors, and this is all we have,” Samko said.
The term sheet is expected to go before the City Council for approval.
A city spokesperson said the next step will be drafting a binding Memorandum of Agreement for the conveyance of the property, consistent with the terms of the Nonbinding Term Sheet.
The School Board and the City Council will then vote on approving the conveyance of the property on the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement.
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