DATE: Sunday, March 16, 1997                TAG: 9703140005

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial

                                            LENGTH:   39 lines

RELIEF IN SIGHT VIRGINIA BEACH IS WISE TO ADD 742 PARKING SPACES THIS SUMMER, BUT OPEN SPACE IS NEEDED TOO.

There is only one thing Virginia Beach needs as much as water to drink and sand for the beaches: more parking.

Frustrated tourists regularly circle the resort area during the summer searching in vain for vacant parking spots. And locals often stay away from the resort area during the high season because of parking headaches.

That's a pity.

So it was welcome news last week when the city announced it had found an additional 742 parking places in time for this summer season. That means more revenue from parking fees, fewer headaches for visitors and more patrons for Oceanfront businesses and restaurants.

Most of the spaces - 612 of them - will be located in the new three-story parking garage on Ninth Street. Privately owned, this garage is being leased by the city.

Another 130 parking spaces will be available on the 31st Street lot that is now home to the temporary ice rink, Starship Ice.

It's a shame this unusual Oceanfront attraction must leave to make way for cars, but the inflatable igloo was never intended to stay at the Oceanfront indefinitely.

The future of this precious property that is owned by the city's department of economic development, is not yet decided. A growing number of locals are pushing city officials to preserve this last Oceanfront oasis as a public park, like the 24th Street venue.

In a meeting this week, Mayor Meyera Oberndorf seemed sympathetic to that point of view, remarking that she had never regretted the purchase of the 24th Street property for the public. We agree. That park, a grassy island in a sea of hotels and motels, has quickly become a beloved part of Virginia Beach.

Parking at the 31st Street lot is good temporary use of that parcel, until the department of economic development comes up with a plan for its use.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu