Norfolk Fire-Rescue and the City of Norfolk announced on Apr. 28 that a dedication ceremony for the new Fire Station 11 will take place on Saturday, May 2, at 11 a.m. The new station is located at 2601 Lafayette Boulevard and replaces the original Verdun Avenue facility, which has served the city for over a century.
The event marks an important milestone as Norfolk continues to update its public safety infrastructure while honoring its history. The ceremony will include remarks from Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D., Norfolk Fire-Rescue Chief Sidney Carroll, and Councilwoman Mamie Johnson.
Following the dedication, attendees are invited to tour the new fire station during an open house. The debut of “Moon Gate,” a public art installation created by sculptor Jim Gallucci and commissioned by Norfolk Arts, will also be featured. This sculpture stands sixteen feet tall and weighs four thousand pounds. Nearly two hundred residents participated in its creation by carving molds during a community iron-pour event. According to organizers, Gallucci’s design was unanimously chosen by the Art Planning Committee and approved by the Norfolk Arts Commission.
Parking for guests is available at New Hope Church of Norfolk across from the station at 3232 Brest Avenue with shuttle service provided.
Norfolk encompasses about 235,000 residents according to the official facts page. The city supports cultural institutions such as Virginia Opera and Chrysler Museum of Art as detailed on its facts page. It features landmarks like USS Wisconsin battleship and Half Moone Cruise Center according to city records, as well as seven miles along Chesapeake Bay shoreline out of a total of one hundred forty-four miles as reported officially.
The city’s government includes a mayor alongside seven council members who set policy and manage affairs according to government information. Its historic seal displays images reflecting both port activity and agricultural heritage as per city history records.
