Virginia Beach Preserves Land Near Pleasure House Point

City Council approves $2.6 million purchase to prevent residential development near natural area.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:48pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a kayak or canoe repeated in a tight grid pattern, representing the outdoor recreation and water access at Pleasure House Point.The preservation of land near Pleasure House Point will help maintain public access and the natural character of this important environmental and recreational area.Virginia Beach Today

The Virginia Beach City Council unanimously approved the acquisition of less than an acre of land near Pleasure House Point Natural Area and Crab Creek, preventing the development of up to 10 duplexes or five single-family homes. The city was awarded grants to partially fund the $2.6 million purchase, with the remaining $2.3 million to be paid by the city.

Why it matters

The land is located near the entrance of the park and is already used regularly for access to trails. Preserving this land will help maintain the natural character of the Pleasure House Point area, which is an important habitat and recreation destination for the community.

The details

The 0.57-acre property, owned by Riverwalk, LLC, a subsidiary of McLeskey & Associates, is adjacent to Crab Creek and the Lynnhaven River. The city plans for the land to eventually become part of the Pleasure House Point Natural Area. The purchase was partially funded by $200,000 from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and $100,000 from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation.

  • In March 2025, the city began clearing more than 5,200 trees as part of a separate wetland mitigation project at Pleasure House Point.
  • In April 2026, the Virginia Beach City Council unanimously approved the land acquisition near Pleasure House Point.

The players

Virginia Beach City Council

The governing body of the city of Virginia Beach that unanimously approved the land acquisition.

Riverwalk, LLC

A subsidiary of McLeskey & Associates, the owner of the 0.57-acre property near Pleasure House Point.

Virginia Outdoors Foundation

A state agency that awarded a $200,000 grant to partially fund the land purchase.

Virginia Land Conservation Foundation

A state agency that awarded a $100,000 grant to partially fund the land purchase.

Lynnhaven River NOW

A local environmental organization that advocated for preserving the land near Pleasure House Point.

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What they’re saying

“This is a piece of property that is in a strategic spot. The owner of this property, by right, can develop this. We would have housing in the middle of this park, this natural preserve that is just a valuable, valuable asset to the city.”

— Stacy Cummings, City Councilman

“This area is already important and actively used by the public, by hikers, by bird watchers, and especially by fishermen and fisherwomen. It is also a very important habitat. Maintaining the shoreline in a natural condition supports both wildlife and water quality.”

— Karen Forget, Director of Lynnhaven River NOW

“While the parcel may appear small on its own, there are still other parcels that remain unprotected. The protection of this parcel plays an outsized role in preserving the character of the broader Pleasure House Point site and preventing further development along the waterfront.”

— Christy Everett, Hampton Roads Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

What’s next

The city plans for the 0.57 acres to eventually become part of the Pleasure House Point Natural Area.

The takeaway

This land acquisition represents an important step in preserving the natural character and public access to the Pleasure House Point area, which is a valuable environmental and recreational asset for the Virginia Beach community.