After a decade of fundraising and five years of construction, YMCA JT’s Camp Grom is officially open to the public. The YMCA fun park founded by The Virginia Gentlemen Foundation was inaugurated Sunday, June 10 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
In attendance were hundreds of Camp Grom supporters, former JT Walk participants and members of the Virginia Gentlemen Foundation. Speaking to the mission of Camp Grom were YMCA Director Billy George, JT’s father, Bruce Thompson, Mayor Louis Jones and Councilmember John Uhrin. Several beneficiaries of the YMCA arena also expressed gratitude for the $15 million project, including a wounded veteran, seasoned Navy SEAL and mother of a fallen marine. Their sentiments were laced with appreciation and recognized Camp Grom as a beacon of hope for the Gold Star Families, wounded veterans and disabled individuals the park strives to support.
Councilmember Uhrin duly noted that much like JT’s Grommet Island Park, the addition of the 70-acre Camp Grom will continue to transform Virginia Beach into a city that unites differences and recognizes abled-bodied and handicap individuals as one unit on one mission—to have fun.
Gracing the spacious campus are several recreation spaces to be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities including the Townebank Sportsplex, a climbing tower, athletic field, reflection garden and an expansive indoor/outdoor aquatic center featuring a lazy river, lap pool and splash park. Various pavilions are also scattered throughout the park outfitted with covered patios and picnic tables.
Centralizing the various arenas is Lake Standing, an expansive catch and release pond stocked with largemouth bass, bluegills and redear sunfish. In addition to fishing, Camp Grom guests can also enjoy kayaks, pedal boats and cable wakeboarding on Lake Standing. For the more reserved visitors, lounge chairs and umbrellas are available along the lake’s beach. All spaces at Camp Grom are wheelchair accessible.
YMCA JT’s Camp Grom is located at 1155 Prosperity Rd., Virginia Beach.
Grace Silipigni
Grace Silipigni is an elementary school Spanish immersion teacher based in Virginia Beach and a regular contributor to Coastal Virginia Magazine, covering a wide range of topics such as health and wellness, education and learning, food and drink, happenings and events, travel and getaways and more.
