Virginia Beach: J.T. Grommet Island Park and Playground

by WPL Site Design

The entrance to J.T. Grommet Island is wide enough for two wheel chairs to pass one another. The park/playground design is by WPL Site Design, a Virginia Beach-based firm specializing in landscape architecture, civil engineering and land surveying. The Amerigroup Foundation sponsored the playground.

William Sprague said, “Do not wait to strike until the iron is hot, make it hot by striking.”

J.T. Grommet Island Park and Playground is proof of what happens when you do just that. A revolution in accessibility, this project is an inspirational crescendo to a story that will continue to live, like the ocean which inspired it.

Some of the best ideas spring from a pure need for change. A few years ago, local developer Bruce Thompson faced an agonizing family challenge. His son, Josh, an avid beachgoer and surfer, had become immobilized by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a degenerative disease that attacks nerve cells (neurons) that control the body’s muscles. It was heartbreaking to watch his son unable to physically participate in his sporting passions. For Bruce Thompson, this set in motion the creation of a beach park expressly designed for those with physical disabilities. Bruce was determined to see some good come from Josh’s bad luck.

The “Anticipation” statue is modeled after Josh Thompson and his younger brother. It overlooks the well-known surf spot at 1st Street and depicts a “grommet” (a young inexperienced surfer) being mentored on the sport.

It took a massive year-long fundraising effort, and lots of jumping through hoops, but now the vision is a reality called JT’s Grommet Island, a fully-accessible 15,000 square foot beach park. The name “Grommet” derives from surfer slang for a young or inexperienced surfer.

JT’s Grommet Island was designed by WPL, a Virginia Beach-based firm specializing in landscape architecture, civil engineering and land surveying. WPL vice president Billy Almond and landscape architect Stacy Gibson, both surfers and beach lovers themselves, took special interest in this project.

The playground offers a number of special elements for the physically disabled, including:

• Extra Large Wheelchair Accessible Entrances—large enough for two chairs to pass one another.
  
• Poured-in-Place Surfacing—shock absorption for children’s safety, of course, but allowing wheelchairs to maneuver to every play element.
  
• Raised Sand Tables—for sandcastle building at an accessible height.
  
• Soft-Play Toddler Area— outfitted with oversized climbable dolphin sculptures, a surfboard, and wave. This also serves as a great photo-op where playground goers can pretend to “surf the tube.”
  
• Sway Boat—this wave movement device sways back and forth, leaving lots of room for adventure and imagination.

The ambience is reinforced by a surrounding colorful play surface that suggests an island-like setting.

The final design element is truly the piece that ties the project together. Overlooking this well-known surf spot at 1st Street is a statue called “Anticipation.” It depicts a “grommet” being mentored on the challenges they are about to face in the ocean. Modeled after Josh and his younger brother, this statue serves as a reminder of what challenges people face on a daily basis that are only amplified when living with a disability.

Last year, more than 7,000 people gathered at Virginia Beach oceanfront to participate in an ALS fundraiser, the inaugural Josh Thompson Walk. More than $1 million was raised for stem cell research, expanded drug access and ALS patient services.