The Chesapeake Health Department has issued an intent to deny renewal of the permit for the pool at Chesapeake Golf Club, citing deteriorating surface conditions, and the pool’s owner says there are no plans to repair it. The potential loss has mobilized residents of the Las Gaviotas neighborhood and two youth swim teams that rely on the facility.
Neighbors organize to press owner for repairs
Many Las Gaviotas residents pay annual dues to be members of the private club pool. Two local swim teams, Tide Swimming and the Chesapeake Serpents, have used the pool as their practice site. Concern about the pool’s future accelerated after team leaders emailed parents at the end of the summer season saying the teams could no longer practice there because of Chesapeake Health Department concerns.
Las Gaviotas resident Stefanie Anthony and four others started a petition and convened a community meeting to discuss options. Neighbors say the pool is an important community asset not only for recreational use but also as the primary practice facility for area summer swim teams.
"We're not here to fight against anybody. We're here to fight for this community asset, which is the country club pool,"
The pool is privately owned by Wedge Creek Golf Courses, an Ohio-based company that also owns Honey Bee Golf Club in Virginia Beach and several courses in Ohio. According to neighbors, the owner has indicated he has no current plans to resurface the pool, a position that conflicts with the health department’s findings.
What the health department said
The Chesapeake Health Department provided a statement to news outlets noting the department is not requiring an immediate closure. The department indicated the facility currently holds a valid permit while the permit renewal process is unresolved. Neighbors say the department identified issues with the pool surface that led to the agency’s intent to deny the forthcoming renewal.
Parents and swimmers say the timing is critical: without access to the Chesapeake Golf Club pool, the two swim teams will be without a practice venue for their summer seasons. Caroline Shea, a parent and board member of the Chesapeake Serpents, said her son has been on the team for more than a decade and that the team currently has no alternative facility.
- Primary facility at risk: Chesapeake Golf Club pool (Las Gaviotas neighborhood)
- Owner: Wedge Creek Golf Courses (Ohio-based)
- Teams affected: Tide Swimming and Chesapeake Serpents
| Issue | Current status |
|---|---|
| Health department action | Intent to deny permit renewal |
| Owner response | No plans announced to resurface pool |
| Community response | Petition and community meeting organized |
Local consequences and next steps
For families and swim team members, the practical impact is immediate. Swim team leaders told parents in the end-of-season message that practices would not continue at the club pending resolution of the health department’s concerns. Without a replacement site, swimmers could lose weeks of training or face the logistical and financial challenge of traveling elsewhere for practice.
Neighbors and team parents have begun outreach to the owner and to other community stakeholders. The petition and community meeting are intended to demonstrate local interest in preserving the pool and to press for repairs or a negotiated solution. The Chesapeake Health Department’s permit process will determine whether the facility can meet municipal safety standards to continue operations.
The owner’s published affiliation with other courses, including Honey Bee Golf Club in Virginia Beach, confirms this is a privately held asset rather than a city-operated pool, which narrows the health department’s immediate options to compliance and permit enforcement rather than direct repair or takeover. Neighbors say they will continue to pursue all available avenues to keep the pool open for the community.
WE NEWS will follow developments as the city health department completes its permit review and as stakeholders report subsequent decisions or repairs. Residents with information or who wish to support the petition are gathering at recent community meetings organized by Las Gaviotas neighbors.
