Editing Virginia Beach, Virginia (section)

==Parks and recreation==
Virginia Beach is home to 210 city parks, encompassing over {{convert|4000|acres}}, including neighborhood parks, community parks, district parks, and other open spaces.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Virginia Beach Parks|url=http://vbgov.com/vgn.aspx?vgnextoid=aea92f9eb644c010VgnVCM1000006310640aRCRD&vgnextchannel=944ac67a3e83b010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD&vgnextparchannel=dfee54cf18ad9010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928015919/http://vbgov.com/vgn.aspx?vgnextoid=aea92f9eb644c010VgnVCM1000006310640aRCRD&vgnextchannel=944ac67a3e83b010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD&vgnextparchannel=dfee54cf18ad9010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD|archive-date=September 28, 2007|access-date=October 5, 2007|publisher=Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation}}</ref>

[[Mount Trashmore Park]] is clearly visible from I-264 when traveling to the oceanfront. The hill measures {{convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on}} high and is the highest point in Virginia Beach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mt. Trashmore Park|url=http://www.vbgov.com/vgn.aspx?vgnextchannel=dfee54cf18ad9010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101232903/http://www.vbgov.com/vgn.aspx?vgnextchannel=dfee54cf18ad9010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD|archive-date=January 1, 2007|access-date=October 5, 2007|publisher=Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wtkr.com/news/good-news/virginia-beach-neptune-festival-celebrates-47th-annual-boardwalk-weekend|title=Mount Trashmore getting new staircases, an outdoor stage and an observation deck|last=Hodies|first=Eric|date=January 16, 2018|website=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]|access-date=January 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://smartgrowth.org/8-incredible-parks-created-landfills/|title=8 Incredible Parks Created from Landfills|last=Mordas|first=Laura|date=December 20, 2017|website=Smart Growth Voice|access-date=April 11, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Miyazaki Japanese Moon Bridge 8 - Copy LR.jpg|thumb|left|A Japanese-style [[moon bridge]] in the Miyazaki Japanese Garden, Red Wing Park]]
One of the major parks is Red Wing Park, a {{convert|97|acres}} park in east-central part of the city, very close to Oceana Naval Air Station. This land became a park in 1966. A unique feature of this park is the Miyazaki Japanese Garden, which is a result of its interactions with its [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister city]] [[Miyazaki, Miyazaki|Miyazaki, Japan]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Red Wing Park | url = https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-trails/city-parks/pages/red-wing-park.aspx | publisher = City of Virginia Beach | access-date = May 29, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:VirginiaBoardwalkEntertainment.jpg|right|thumb|People riding a rental [[surrey (carriage)|surrey]] on the boardwalk]]

The [[Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge]], established in 1938, is an {{convert|8000|acre|km2|adj=on}} freshwater refuge that borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Back Bay on the west. It is managed by the [[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge|url=http://www.fws.gov/backbay/|publisher=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051216180932/http://www.fws.gov/backbay/|archive-date=December 16, 2005|access-date=March 20, 2008}}</ref>

[[First Landing State Park]] and [[False Cape State Park]] are both located in coastal areas within the city's corporate limits as well.<ref>{{Cite web | title = First Landing State Park | url = http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fir.shtml | publisher = First Landing State Park | access-date = March 20, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title = False Cape State Park | url = http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fal.shtml | publisher = False Cape State Park | access-date = March 20, 2008}}</ref>

Munden Point Park is a rural park located in the deep southern end of the city,<ref>{{Cite web | title = Munden Point | url = http://www.dgif.state.va.us/vbwt/site.asp?trail=1&loop=CSY&site=CSY10 | publisher = Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail | accessdate = March 20, 2008 |url-status=dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080406082700/http://www.dgif.state.va.us/vbwt/site.asp?trail=1&loop=CSY&site=CSY10 | archivedate = April 6, 2008}}</ref> right on The North Landing River.<ref>{{cite web | title = Munden Point Park | publisher = City of Virginia Beach | url = https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-trails/city-parks/Pages/munden-point-park.aspx | accessdate = May 14, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Virginia Beach No-Bad-Behavior sign.jpg|thumb|right|Local law prohibits the use of [[profanity]] in public areas in the city. This sign along Atlantic Avenue indicates this law<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/02/19/807435310/centuries-old-law-against-cursing-in-public-repealed-by-virginia-legislators|title=Centuries-Old Law Against Cursing In Public Repealed By Virginia Lawmakers|last=Pascale|first=Jordan|date=February 19, 2020|website=[[NPR]]|access-date=October 2, 2022}}</ref>]]
Pleasure House Point is a {{convert|118|acres|abbr=off}} park of undeveloped land on the shore of the [[Lynnhaven River]]. It is also the location of the [[Brock Environmental Center]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://pilotonline.com/news/local/environment/article_b079c78e-d1cc-5914-8346-dc3bf1fb519b.html | title = Environmental center opens at Pleasure House Point | work = [[The Virginian-Pilot]] | via = PilotOnline.com | first = Kathy | last = Hieatt | date = November 15, 2014|access-date = June 22, 2019}}</ref>

Virginia Beach's extensive park system is recognized as one of the best in the United States. In its 2013 ParkScore ranking, [[Trust for Public Land|The Trust for Public Land]] reported that Virginia Beach had the 8th best park system among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=1469 | title = Virginia Beach's Park System Ranks Eighth in the Nation | date = June 6, 2013 | publisher = City of Virginia Beach |access-date=July 18, 2013}}</ref>