VIRGINIA BEACH — Red Wing Park will reopen temporarily later this month for the city’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, even though a park improvement project is still underway.

The 97-acre park, which boasts 150 blooming cherry blossom trees from Virginia Beach’s international sister city Miyazaki City, Japan, was closed in October as part of a long-term roadway improvement project. The project was slated to be done in early 2025.

Weather events and soil issues have delayed the project’s end date, said Ali Weatherton, spokesperson for the city of Virginia Beach. During the closure, park facilities — including playgrounds, tennis courts, walking paths, athletic fields and the dog park — have been unavailable to the public. The city is encouraging residents with dogs to visit Marshview Dog Park as an alternative during the work.

The Cherry Blossom Festival will begin March 29 and continue through April 5. The park will close again after the festival in mid-April to complete the road improvements and playground construction.

In addition to for tours and Asian cultural events, this year’s festival will also feature its first vendor market on March 30. The market will have opportunities for festival goers to purchase merchandise and artwork that “reflect Asian culture and cherry blossoms.” Tours to see the cherry blossom trees at the festival are fully booked, but residents can join a waitlist online.

Weatherton said the ongoing improvements to the park include widening the park’s entryway and repaving the entire park, including its parking lots and walking paths. According to the city, this would “enhance traffic flow and safety” at Red Wing Park and make it more accessible. She said the city is spending $1.5 million to complete the renovations and add a new playground to the space, and changes in the project’s timeline have not affected its price tag.