Keep Buckroe attractive for all
By Adrian Whitcomb
Daily Press
January 18, 2007
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
