There is a park in Virginia Beach, Virginia, known as Mount Trashmore. The name may be puzzling for those unfamiliar with its background, especially when considering all the pristine splendor and attributes it provides to the visitors who come here regularly. There’s nothing trashy about it at all, right? So, then why the name?
It’s a fascinating, unexpected story, and perhaps even a little jaw-dropping. It’s certainly a tale worth telling, which is just what I plan to do in this Flashback Friday Feature as I recount the treasured history of Mount Trashmore.
A Clever Concept
Once upon a time, the site where Mount Trashmore Park now sits was nothing more than the City of Virginia Beach’s notorious landfill. The mounting piles of discarded waste peaked throughout the 1950s and 60s, forming what could only be described as a mountain of trash. Not only was it physically unattractive to the overall area, but the unsightly presentation of trash piles was hindering the potential of prime real estate utilization in proximity to the city’s center.
That’s when local officials began theorizing alternative concepts to reinvent and revitalize the area. The objective was to exchange what had grown to become a detestable eyesore with a sight for sore eyes, a crowd-pleasing attraction to the area. And so was born a never-before-seen novel concept to transform the desolate wasteland into a new recreational park.
Transformation from Trash to Treasure
It was a tall order, to say the least. The vision was to design a park featuring vast open spaces, multiple onsite recreational opportunities, a large playground, areas for picnicking and public gatherings, and even a lake. The project was more than just aesthetically shifting the landscape; it would utilize environmentally beneficial practices, such as stormwater management. The lake would be designed in such a way as to capture and filter runoff, which would reduce heavy rains and prevent soil erosion. This would be crucial given how the park would still technically be located atop a “mountain” of trash rising 60 feet above sea level.
That’s right, despite the impressive transformation of the site, Mount Trashmore is still technically located on a pile of mounting garbage. Rather than removing the existing debris, conservation practices were implemented, which involved venting and packing the landfill with clay and clean soil. This was to ensure that harmful gases would be unable to escape. Still, it’s interesting to note that the existing trash is estimated to be only two feet or so below the surface.
Standout Features
Mount Trashmore officially opened to the public in 1974 and is renowned as the first-ever landfill to be converted into a recreational park. In addition to touting such a lofty status, the park boasts several standout features of great acclaim.
The establishment of 52-acre Lake Trashmore, for instance, was the ultimate engineering marvel. With its sloped bottom and well-stocked variety of freshwater fish, it is a premium hot spot for on-shore fishing. There is also a smaller lake located on Encore Hill—the lesser “mountain” of Mount Trashmore Park. It’s Lake Windsor, a brackish water lake fed by nearby Thalia Creek.
The versatile Kids’ Cove is another one of the park’s greatest claims to fame. First established in the 1990s, the myriad features offered to children of all ages and abilities have undergone many developments through the years, keeping current while adhering to best safety practices and ADA compliance.
There’s also that standout Skate Park onsite. Having made its debut back in 2003, the skate park boasts an impressive 24,000 square feet and even features an above-ground, seven-foot-deep bowl. An additional callout is the competition-sized vert ramp that’s more than 13 feet tall and 40 feet wide.
The unique convenience of outdoor fitness stations is great for folks at any age and mobility level. It’s just another sign of going above and beyond in mutually catering to crowds of all kinds. Other amenities you can enjoy on your visit to Mount Trashmore include: various-sized picnic shelters, charcoal grills, volleyball courts, shared-use paths, horseshoe pits, vending machines, public restrooms, and seasonal concessions.
The Mount Trashmore of Today
Mount Trashmore spans an extensive 165 acres, with hills ascending higher than 60 feet and a length spanning 800 feet. It currently ranks as the most popular park in all of Virginia Beach, drawing in more than a million visitors annually.
The inspiring story behind Mount Trashmore Park represents a truly remarkable transformative example of upcycling efforts and initiatives at their finest. In this case, it was one of the most impressive examples of transforming trash into treasure. Efforts for improvements and updates are forever evolving to meet and exceed the vastly changing quality standards of society. But it can’t be denied that things feel just about perfect, already.
Mount Trashmore is located at 310 Edwin Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Go to the website to learn more about it.