“These confirm everything we’ve been telling people.”
- Mark Wawner, a project manager for Virginia Beach’s Economic Development Department By John Warren
The Virginia Pilot
The list of lists for the city continues.
In an online article, Forbes magazine gave the second recent “green” accolade to Virginia Beach, ranking the city No. 10 on its “America’s Best Cities for the Outdoors” list. And, in the June/July print issue of Best Life magazine, the Beach is ranked No. 2 on its “100 Best Places to Raise a Family” list. These are the latest in many such placements, including an April ranking as one of the 10 Greenest Places to retire by the online version of U.S. News & World Report.
“We utilize these rankings in our marketing materials,” said Mark Wawner, a project manager for the city’s Economic Development Department. “These confirm everything we’ve been telling people.”
Forbes compiled its list based on parks spending per resident, the percentage of parks land vs. city-owned land, recreational facilities, air quality, precipitation and temperatures.
Since 2001, Virginia Beach has purchased 1,788 acres of open space for $40 million, Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Curtis said. “I don’t know any other city or county on the East Coast that has made that kind of commitment,” she said. The top three spots went to California cities. San Francisco was No.1, followed by San Diego and San Jose. Seattle finished at No. 11, just behind the beach.
The list for Best Life, and offshoot of Men’s Health magazine, was based on U.S. Census data, National Center for Education statistics and American Association of Museums rankings, among other things. No. 1 on its “Best Places to Raise a Family” list was Honolulu. Newport News was the only other city in the region ranked, at 83. Best Life didn’t stop with a best list. It also published a “10 Worst Places to Raise a Family” list, with Flint, Mich.; Waco, Texas; and Fayetteville N.C.; winning dishonorable mention.
In recent years, the Beach’s rankings have included sixth best big city from Money Magazine; Best Place to Live in America from USA Weekend magazine and No. 1 American city in Ladies Home Journal list. The city has headlined on more obscure lists as well, including a “Most Stroller Friendly City” list published by Fit Pregnancy magazine.
Other honors
April ranking as one of the 10 Greenest Places to Retire by the online version of U.S. News & World Report
Sixth-best big city from Money magazine
Best Place to Live in America from USA Weekend magazine
No. 1 American city in Ladies Home Journal
On the “Most Stroller Friendly City” list published by Fit Pregnancy magazine
Reprinted from The Virginian Pilot
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
