Category Archives: parks

Belle Isle Cleanup This Sunday

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RVA Clean Sweep is scheduled to work on Belle Isle this Sunday:

Belle Isle is in desperate need of a cleanup, this is the time of the year when the highest number of visitors are out and unfortunately they leave a huge mess. We’ll clean the parking area and then do a loop over to the rocks and back around. It shouldn’t take more than 2 hours at the most. I’ll have trash pickers, gloves and trash bags, please bring water and good walking shoes.

Please go here to sign up to volunteer:
http://www.meetup.com/RVA-Clean-Sweep/events/224029643/

The Belle Isle parking lot on Tredegar Street was completely full yesterday evening and it’s no wonder with accolades still pouring in- outdoor sports store REI has named the James River Parks as one of the nation’s six best river parks. This comes three years after Outside Magazine readers voted Richmond as the Best River City in the country. Richmond will again be featured as a travel destination in the September issue of National Geographic Traveler. Their brief feature “Where to go Next” highlights L’Opossum and the James River Park.

Cleanups This Saturday

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Two cleanup efforts are happening this Saturday-

First, from Jimmy’s email:

OREGON HILL ALLEY CLEANUP
SATURDAY JULY 11 8-11 am

We will walk thru the alleys to
toss all the discarded furniture into the
trash truck. Come to Pleasants Park (S. Laurel & Albemarle St.) at 8am.

Even if you can only give 30 minutes, we’d love to have you!!

Coming later than 8am?? Call me at 804-335-5808 or simply look in all the alleys til you find us.
If lifting furniture isn’t your thing, we can give you a grabber & bag for you to get the smaller litter.

Seeking anyone who can join the effort. Oregon Hill residents or not. Get some exercise – save on Gym Membership fees!!

If you can join the cleanup THIS SATURDAY, please say so in a reply.

LOTS OF DISCARDED FURNITURE GOT LOST
ON ITS WAY TO THE CITY DUMP!!
YOU CAN HELP US GETTING IT
TO WHERE IT WANTS TO GO!!

thanks, jimmy blackford

Second, from RVA Cleansweep:

Oregon Hill Monthly Cleanup
Saturday, July 11, 2015
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Corner of Cumberland Street & Cherry Street
899 Cumberland Street, Richmond, VA (map)

We will be wearing orange T-shirts on the Corner of Cumberland & Cherry
We will be cleaning along Cumberland Street in Oregon Hill. Please bring your water bottle.

All supplies will be provided. Please wear closed toed shoes.

Please use the MeetUp page to sign up for the RVA Cleansweep effort.
http://www.meetup.com/RVA-Clean-Sweep/events/222805199/

More coordination for future cleanups is something that is being worked on now.

“Oregon Hill Proposed Conditions for Tredegar Green Amphitheater”

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The following letter was sent from an attorney hired by the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association on June 17 to members of City Council, the Mayor’s office, Richmond Police Department, and others.

Dear elected and appointed officials of the City of Richmond:

We represent the neighborhood associations of Oregon Hill and the Overlook.

The citizens of Oregon Hill and the Overlook have engaged with Venture Richmond in a series of discussions, and today have provided a set of draft conditions for the consideration of Venture Richmond in their proposed zoning request to the City for the Tredegar Green Amphitheater.

The homeowners and residents of Oregon Hill support (and enjoy) robust public use of the riverfront and specifically do not oppose reasonable use of the Tredegar Green property. However, like any neighborhood of homeowners in the City, they have reasonable concerns about adverse impacts on noise, parking, trash, public safety and the like. And, like any neighborhood of homeowners in the City, they have a legitimate expectations that these adverse impacts will be reasonably addressed by a zoning applicant and by their City officials.

To assist Venture Richmond and the City, we have prepared a proposed set of conditions that we feel reasonably address the adverse impacts of use of the Tredegar Green property. Attached are that set of conditions and an explanatory cover letter to Venture Richmond counsel Bill Axselle.

We look forward to working with Venture Richmond and the City as the zoning application goes forward. In that process, we submit these conditions to allow the uses that Venture Richmond envisions while reasonably protecting the neighbors on Oregon Hill.

We welcome your input and assistance in this regard.

Thank you very much,

Andrew R. McRoberts
Attorney
Sands Anderson PC

From: McRoberts, Andrew R.
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 1:31 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: Oregon Hill Proposed Conditions for Tredegar Green Amphitheater

Bill, here are our proposed conditions and an explanatory cover letter. We look forward to working with you in addressing the Oregon Hill neighborhood’s reasonable concerns.

We learned this morning – too late to affect these conditions I promised you today – that the Richmond Police Department (“RPD”) may wish for the applications for event management plan approval to go through another department or agency rather than the RPD. Although I have not discussed this with my clients, I anticipate that shifting the receiving/approving agency to another department or office which works better for all would be acceptable to us. As I mentioned in the cover letter, a number of City departments may be involved in review of a proposed event management plan.

Thanks for your assistance,

Andrew

Andrew R. McRoberts
Attorney
Sands Anderson PC

Attachment: Letter to Hon Ralph L. Axselle Jr 6-17-15 (Editor’s note: click here for PDF)

Parking at the James River Park

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“Why Richmond Why?!?” column in Times Dispatch mentions parking concerns along riverfront:

“Burrell said that while we all love the James River Park, there are times of the year where the park may be reaching its “carrying capacity.”

I’ve spent a lot of time in the park on those busiest days. I’ve seen motorists wait in line for 20 to 30 minutes to get into the parking lot at Pony Pasture. I’ve seen motorists overflow parking into the Oregon Hill and Spring Hill neighborhoods to get to Belle Isle. Friends who live near Reedy Creek and 42nd Street have lamented the overflow parking in their neighborhood streets, including people trashing yards with empties and untimely potty breaks.

Updates From Tredegar (American Civil War Museum)

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From email:

Beginning Wednesday, July 1, the Museum will conduct cannon demonstrations daily between 2:15 and 2:30 pm. Daily demonstrations will continue through Labor Day weekend, and are part of our ongoing efforts to create interesting and engaging activities for Museum visitors. It is our sincere hope that the expanded schedule will not cause undue stress among our neighbors on Oregon Hill.

I also would like to give you an update on the work that is being done to the canal wall at the Tredegar site. All the willow oaks on the south side of the wall, and the small scrub trees growing close to the north side of the wall, have been removed. Craddock Masonry, Inc. is conducting repair and reconstruction, which is under way. Where the extent of damage requires it, the top three courses will be rebuilt and the entire length of the wall sealed. Holes and erosion of the wall will be repaired. Old bricks that are in good condition will be reused, with matching vintage brick being used as needed. This work is scheduled to be finished by late July.