From the City’s Department of Community Development October Update:

Monroe Park Master Plan Moving Ahead

Richmond acquired the original 11 acres for Monroe Park in 1851 when the park still lay outside city limits. It was envisioned as a place that would provide opportunities to partake of “invigorating air” and to participate in the “interchange of social affections.”

It has been the home to the State Fair, served as a training ground for Civil War troops, and played host to a Bruce Springsteen concert in the late 1960s, and its history, location and character have made it one of the City’s landmark public spaces.

The Monroe Park Master Plan was begun in 2006 and adopted last year to serve as a guide to reinvigorate the park and integrate historic preservation with
modern recreation needs.

Over time, it plans for the restoration of the Checkers Building, improvements to park entrances and lighting, uniform tree plantings with a variety of species, and other improvements.

The plan is expected to be presented to the Urban Design Committee in October.

You can review the Monroe Park Master Plan here (a large 66MB file – may take a moment to open).

Click here to view some vintage postcards of Monroe Park from the VCU Library.