The Canoes at Lesner Bridge
Hidden GemThe Canoes at Lesner Bridge is a attraction in Bayside, Virginia Beach, best for public-art fans, sunset views over the Lynnhaven, a Shore Drive detour.
Ten full-size aluminum canoes, each stamped and punched with a lacy filigree pattern 'reminiscent of the decorative arts of the early settlers,' are joined at the center in a stylized sunburst atop a 36-foot arch on the southern pedestrian overlook of the rebuilt Lesner Bridge. Sculptor Donald Lipski's piece nods to the 1600s, when seine fishing and canoe travel connected the Lynnhaven River to the Chesapeake Bay — the same water this overlook now looks out on. LED lighting keeps it visible after dark, and a seating area lets you linger over the bay view. It was funded entirely through the Public Art Virginia Beach Foundation's community donations, and it sits right beside the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp facility, with paid parking accessible late into the evening.
Amenities
- Ten-canoe sunburst sculpture (36 ft)
- LED evening lighting
- Bayfront seating area
- Adjacent boat ramp and kayak launch
Know Before You Go
- Best for: public-art fans, sunset views over the Lynnhaven, a Shore Drive detour
- Parking: Paid parking at the adjacent Lynnhaven Boat Ramp facility, entered from the eastbound lanes of Shore Drive just before the bridge.
- Accessibility: Paved pedestrian overlook on the bridge; open-air and step-free.
- Dogs: allowed — Outdoor public overlook; standard city leash rules apply.
- Location: Lesner Bridge pedestrian overlook, Shore Drive at the Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-18.
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