Our Community: Change is Good

Our Community: Change is Good by: RJ Armenio Anthony Mack

Three Fountains. Each fountain has water that shoot up to perform an amazing display. At night, these displays are brightly shown with lights. These fountains allow fish to live in them. Therefor, people always love to go fishing; as long as you don’t eat the fish. All three fountains are very beneficial to the neighborhood; they set a very good setting and mood to neighbors all around. Beneficial things to Victoria Parks

Many benches. Benches are put everywhere; even in the most random spots. Although these spots are random, they are very beneficial. If you are hanging out with friends and need a place to sit, many benches offer great views. People always love running or like to walk around the neighborhood. These benches are great for resting after being heavily exhausted. Beneficial things to Victoria Parks

Kellam High School. One VERY beneficial thing to Victoria Parks is a brand new high school being built. Kellam High School is being built connected to Victoria Parks. Students can walk to the new school without any troubles. The school is built so close, it isn’t a long walk for any residents living in Victoria Parks. After school activities for those who live in this neighborhood, will have small distances to walk back to their house. Beneficial things to Victoria Parks

There are not a lot of trees in the Ocean Lakes Neighborhood. If you look at the sidewalks, you will see they are especially barren. You might wonder, “Where are the trees?” That’s because there aren’t any. Trees provide shade for people who enjoy taking walks or runs during the day. That shade is nonexistent at the moment. If we plant more trees along the sidewalks, there will be more shade, as well as more oxygen for us to breathe. Non-Beneficial things to the Ocean Lakes Neighborhood

The roads in the neighborhood aren’t completely paved. This makes the roads bumpy and difficult to drive. They are close to being finished but it’s still not quite good enough. Whether you are driving a car, long-boarding, or just going for a walk, its always difficult to maneuver the unfinished parts of the road. If they could lay the last couple layers of pavement down, it would be a much smoother ride for everybody. Non-Beneficial things to the Ocean Lakes Neighborhood

Although there is a park in the Ocean Lakes Neighborhood, it’s not all that great. There is not a basketball court like you would normally find in parks. There is not a lot of open space either. There is only a small playground for little kids. There’s nothing for older kids. If we could make a little more room, we could put a basketball court there so the older kids would have something to do while their younger siblings played. Non-Beneficial things to the Ocean Lakes Neighborhood

Something very important to the Community is trees. Not only does it supply us with oxygen, it’s a great source of shade. • How Many People Would Be Involved? • What are the Basic Materials and Money needed to Complete the Project? • How long do you think a Project like this would take? • What Virginia Beach City Departments Could help or be affected by this Project? Plan of Action

Not many people will be required for this task. But you will need permission in order to plant trees on the Communitie’sproperty. • You will need to ask the Ocean Lakes Community Association and fill out an application to request more trees in that certain area. How Many People Would Be Involved?

Tree seeds (100seeds=$115), saplings, very small trees so that they may grow to become bigger trees (depending on the tree=$10-$1000) • Shovels($10) • Wheel Barrels($20-$100) • Gloves($10) • Soil($20-$60) What are the basic materials and money needed to complete the project?

Very few weeks. Tree wouldn’t be put everywhere, just in certain parts of the neighborhood where there are no trees at all or very few trees present. • Minimum of a week. A month maximum (depending on the amount of trees needed) How long do you think a Project like this would take?

Department of Agriculture The Department of Agriculture deals with many crops and vital plants that we need are provided or funded by this department. With much persuasion and back up information, the Department of Agriculture can fund our operation and/or help with our cause and we operate and lead. Virginia Department of Forestry What Virginia Beach City Departments Could help or be affected by this Project?

City of Virginia Beach, . "Department of Agriculture." VB City of Virginia Beach Virginia A Community for a Lifetime. City of Virginia Beach, 2011. Web. 23 Sep 2012. <http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/agriculture/Pages/default.asp&xgt;. • . "Welcome to Our Community!." Ocean Lakes Community Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sep 2012. <http://oceanlakesvb.com/outside_home.asp>. • . "Tree Service Cost." Cost Helper what people are paying. CostHelper, Inc., 2012. Web. 23 Sep 2012. <http://home.costhelper.com/tree-service.html>. • . "How Much Does It Cost to Plant a Tree?." eHow home. Demand Media, Inc., 2012. Web. 23 Sep 2012. <http://www.ehow.com/facts_7869747_much-cost-plant-tree.html>. • . "Tree Seedlings." Virginia Department of Forestry. Virginia Department of Forestry, 2012. Web. 23 Sep 2012. <http://www.dof.virginia.gov/nursery/cat-seedlings.htm>. Citation

Our Community: Change is Good