THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407150254
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Two popular Virginia Beach attractions are slated for face lifts, so to speak.
The state transportation board recently approved two ``enhancement projects'' for Virginia Beach to help restore portions of the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse and to construct a pedestrian and bicycle trail between the Virginia Beach Arts Center and the Oceanfront.
The two local projects are among 50 approved statewide. The board awarded $14 million to divide among the projects; $160,000 was awarded to the lighthouse project and the connector trail received $400,000.
Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman Bob Spieldenner explained that the projects are ``improvements that increase the value or worth of an established site or make it more aesthetically pleasing. In many cases they preserve historical sites and promote tourism and economic development.''
Virginia Beach planning coordinator Dale Castello said the need for the one-mile connector trail was identified several years ago to provide tourists and residents the alternative of walking or riding bicycles to shops and attractions. It will run from the Arts Center to the oceanfront just south of Laskin Road.
The city plans to begin designing the trail in January and constructing it next July. It should take a year to complete. The 10-foot-wide trail will be constructed of wood, concrete and asphalt.
Spieldenner said the board received 217 applications requesting nearly $61 million from across the state. Those were narrowed to 50, and $14 million was divided among the recipients.
In order to be considered for funding, projects had to meet a long list of criteria, including community support and historical quality of the project.
The old Cape Henry Lighthouse's place in history made it a prime candidate for funding, said Peter Grover, executive director of the Association for Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
``Cape Henry is certainly a historical landmark and it's specifically related to transportation,'' Grover said.
The City of Virginia Beach ranked Cape Henry as a No. 1 priority, Grover said.
The lighthouse restoration will focus on two main areas. The aquai stones at the base are detriorating from decades of wind and rain. More stones now are going to be installed around the base.
``We hope to also raise the level of sand at the base and use the sand to hide the stone,'' Grover said.
The other key area is the small access hatch to the watch tower. ``We want to reconfigure access to make it safer.''
The new designs will return some parts of the lighthouse's interior to its original state.
Restoration will cost $200,000. The city put forth $10,000 and the association raised $30,000. The enhancement award covered the rest.
Grover said the association will be working directly with the city to design changes by January and wants to begin construction in the spring.
Nearly 50,000 people visit the lighthouse each year. ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Stones at the base of the old Cape Henry Lighthouse will be replaced
as part of a restoration project.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA STATE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
by CNB