Mother Nature is breathing a big sigh of relief that the humans finally got it right!

Tremendous news today stemming from a community effort in Hampton Roads! Pleasure House Point—more than 100 acres of dunes, marsh, and trees in Virginia Beach and the largest undeveloped waterfront property on the Lynnhaven River—has been permanently conserved as public open space. Pleasure House Point is near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, just a few miles from the Atlantic and just inside the mouth of the Lynnhaven Inlet. This week, private ownership of the property formally transferred to the City of Virginia Beach, thanks to a successful partnership effort by the city, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) to acquire the site and permanently preserve it. The action culminates an effort that the community and passionate citizens of Virginia Beach began years ago. Recall just five years ago, this scenic property was slated for development as “Indigo Dunes,” an intensive development of more than 1,000 high-rise condos and individual homes. But thanks to the vision and commitment of the local community, local conservation groups, city leaders, and willing funding partners, this natural treasure was saved and will remain unspoiled forever. Formal opening ceremonies to celebrate the public acquisition will come later this year, but as of this week, Pleasure House Point is technically a City of Virginia Beach natural area open to the community. CBF is very proud to have played a role in preserving Pleasure House Point, and we look forward to working with the city and the community to create an environmental education center on a small corner of the tract, an “ultra green” facility that we hope will serve as a resource for outdoor education, habitat replenishment, and community meetings. For now, let’s celebrate this victory for the community, Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads, and the Chesapeake Bay. Christy Everett Hampton Roads Executive Director Chesapeake Bay Foundation July 12, 2012