The sandy beaches of the Blue Ridge beckon

No breakers break, the beach is trucked in every few years and any white caps are a sign to vacate the shoreline, but there’s still something soothing about Chris Greene Lake.

“People enjoy it, here. They have fun and that’s what it’s all about,” says David Dollins, sultan of the Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Department’s northern district. “They can bring the kids and hang out in the sun on the beach or go into the shade of the woods.”

Chris Greene, just north of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, has everything from a toddler’s magic mushroom shower on the baby’s beach to nature trails and canoe rentals. The buildings smell of fresh paint and new stain as county crews spruce up. There’s even real sand on the shore, no mean feat in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Real silica!

“When people come to a lake they want to see a beach and a beach has sand,” Mr. Dollins explains. “We truck it in every few years and then do our best to maintain it. When it rains, the sand sometimes gets washed into the water and we’ll dredge it back out.”

The park isn’t the only swimming hole in the county. There are three, and all will open for Memorial Day picnickers, swimmers, hikers, bikers and hangers-out.

Mint Springs Park, Walnut Creek Park and Chris Greene will have a three-day holiday shakedown cruise as lifeguards watch over the traditional summer kick-off. Any issues, from plumbing to goose gifts on the dock, will be addressed before the parks open again, May 31 to June 1.

The beaches will close June 2 through June 4 and reopen June 5 for the remainder of the summer. Never fear, there is method to the scheduling madness.

“The holiday weekend gives us time to make sure everything’s in working order before the season,” Mr. Dollins says. “If the mushroom isn’t working, the mother’s aren’t happy because the youngest ones can’t play in the water. If there’s a problem in the restrooms or anywhere else, we want it fixed before the parks open for everyday use.”

No one to watch you swim

The temporary weekday closures also protect beachgoers; until county schools are dismissed June 4, there is a stark dearth of lifeguards.

“We have a ratio of about 20 people in the water to one lifeguard,” said Lee Catlin, county spokeswoman. “About 80 percent of our lifeguards are high school students.”

Although the parks are not exactly resorts, they’re worth the travel time, Ms. Catlin said.

“Sure, it’s not Virginia Beach,” she admitted. “On the other hand, if you’re looking at a couple of tanks of gas at the current prices, four hours on the road and hotel bills, it’s a pretty good bargain. There’s a lot to do and it’s close to home.”