Atlantic Park surf lagoon clears hurdle of removing water in Virginia Beach
VIRGINIA BEACH — Five months after a state agency shut down the dewatering process at the surf lagoon of Atlantic Park due to contamination issues, the work has resumed with a filtering system that meets regulatory standards, according to the developer.
Construction was temporarily delayed because groundwater building up inside of the hole that will become a surf park contained high levels of iron and arsenic. The 10-foot deep excavated area runs along the western side of Pacific Avenue between 18th and 20th streets.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality halted the work in December, following a resident’s complaint about brown water and a rusty film in a cove off of Lake Holly where the groundwater was being discharged. The agency traced the elevated level of contaminants back to the surf lagoon excavation and began reviewing the project’s dewatering methods.
Virginia Beach owns the Atlantic Park land and is a partner with Venture Realty Group on the $325 million project. The project also has the backing of music and fashion star Pharrell Williams, who was raised as a young child down the street from the project site, in the Seatack neighborhood.
The developer wanted the city to pay the roughly $1 million needed to remove the contaminants from the water. But attorneys working for Virginia Beach disagreed, stating in a letter that construction of the surf park project had advanced beyond the point of city liability.
Rather than hold the project up any further, the contractor working for the developer began testing methods and equipment to remove the contaminants in March. Now, it’s finally up and running.
“The dewatering system is doing what it needs to do, and we’re pleased with what we’re seeing,” Mike Culpepper, principal with Venture Realty Group, said by phone Monday.
Despite the setback, Culpepper is hopeful the surf park will debut in May 2025, which was generally the original projected opening timeframe. Venture is fronting the dewatering cost with the intention of reconciling with the city at a later date, Culpepper said.
Meanwhile, construction of Atlantic Park’s other elements are steadily moving forward. Two parking garages are more than 50% complete, and the entertainment venue and apartments are taking shape.
The developer has also been ramping up its social media marketing of the project in recent weeks. One Instagram post from @atlanticparkvb features a video with scenes of Virginia Beach and the surf park. It’s narrated by Williams who describes it as the “wave of change.”
Another recent post is a photograph of what may be Williams sporting a cowboy hat at the Atlantic Park construction site. The post says the photo was captured May 5 and includes a quote from Edgar Cayce, founder of the Association for Research and Enlightenment in Virginia Beach.
Williams, who is Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director, wore a similar hat in Paris earlier this year when he showcased American Western-themed looks at the designer’s fall 2024-2025 men’s collection.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
