
DATE: Wednesday, August 6, 1997             TAG: 9708050241

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Public Life 

SOURCE: By John-Henry Doucette

LENGTH: 45 lines

RESERVE A CITY PARK SHELTER

Reserve A City Park Shelter

City parks in South Hampton Roads have one common rule for using picnic shelters:

``If nobody is using it, it's first-come, first-serve,'' Leslie Walker of the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department Leisure Events Office. ``But the chance of that on a weekend in the summer? It just doesn't happen.''

That's why many park officials recommend reserving shelters at least two weeks ahead of time. There are applications to complete, and in special cases, you might need insurance.

Two of Chesapeake's 11 parks accept reservations.

Chesapeake City Park in Greenbrier has a $150 cost per section, unless the group is not-for-profit, in which case the cost is $75. Northwest River Park has small shelters available for $20 a day and big ones for $75.

In Norfolk, shelters can be reserved at the Lakewood, Lafayette, Northside and Barraud parks. They cost $50 to reserve for a day, and $30 for a half day. There is an extra $10 fee for out-of-city users.

At Portsmouth City Park, reservations can be made for the pavilion area. It costs $150 for a day and $75 for a half day. It is usually reserved by groups of 100 or more, and is available for public use when unoccupied.

In Suffolk, local parties under 25 people must pay $10 for picnic shelter reservations. Non-residents must pay $20. For bigger parties, it's $20 and $40, respectively.

All Virginia Beach parks charge $35 for a half day and $70 for a full day for shelter reservations.

For more information on reserving park shelters, call:

Chesapeake's City Park:

382-6728.

Chesapeake's Northwest River Park: 421-7151.

Norfolk Parks Department:

441-5834.

Portsmouth Parks and Recreation: 465-2937.

Suffolk Parks Department:

925-6325.

Virginia Beach Leisure Events: 490-8551.