Another great photo courtesy of William Pickett.
1980’s mishap at the Overlook…
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Category Archives: parks
Monroe Park Woes
The state of Monroe Park continues to create consternation.
From neighbor and Monroe Park defender Todd Woodson:
Last Monday evening, I spoke during citizen comment period at city council regarding the fact that the city currently has over 3/4 of a million dollars and hundreds of hours of planning in the Monroe Park Master Plan and that the plan has been approved by both the planning commission and city council and is prominently displayed on the richmondgov.com website and that they were currently replacing the entire north side of the park (600 and 700 blocks w Franklin) with new concrete sidewalks which do not comply with the specified brick with planting strip sidewalks in the master plan. I emailed the interim director at DPW before any concrete was poured and he responded that he would consult his engineers and get back to me. He never did. I subsequently requested the budget for the project under the freedom of information act but haven’t received it yet. They have now completed the northern perimeter and have started on the eastern side (Belvidere). It is now apparent that the city is going to complete the entire perimeter with inappropriate material in anticipation of the UCI races. This unfortunate waste of funds could reach up to 200 to 300 thousand dollars by my estimate. Should the master plan be implemented, all this concrete will need to be demolished, transported to a landfill, the site re-prepared and correct brick sidewalks installed.
I request that you do anything you can to bring this to the attention of the public. If they stopped and began the right plan, much money could still be saved.
This blatant and willful waste of taxpayer dollars and stress to the environment through all of the landfill waste is appalling and unconscionable. The administration of our city is out of control.
These Monroe Park sidewalks has been reported on before on this website.
Some Richmonders have also been wondering about this plaque, now without a corresponding tree:
Perhaps we will learn more at this upcoming Monday (May 4, 5pm)’s City Council Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting being held in the Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall. Alice Massie, the President of the Monroe Park Conservancy, is scheduled to give an update. She has missed previous meetings. Also, Lucy Meade of Venture Richmond is scheduled to speak on “City Beautification Projects”. This standing committee meeting often has little public participation, despite the important matters that are discussed there.
Important Question On The North Bank Trail
My photography leaves something to be desired, I know, but signs ask “Will You Take 1 Last Ride W/Me To Prom?” or something to that effect.
I hope whoever placed them received a positive response, but I also hope he or she comes back to clean up the signs.
Birds Bring Economic Vitality to Cities, New Study Finds
Many Oregon Hill residents love having birds in the neighborhood and recognize how lucky we are that we get a lot bird traffic due to nearby James River Park and Hollywood Cemetery, which serve as havens for wildlife and important stops for bird migrations.
A new study published last month in the journal Urban Ecosystems tries to determine what economic value residents in two comparable cities place on having birds in their backyards and parks.
From an article on the study:
“This paper shows that our interactions with birds actually have a pretty high economic return to the community where you live,” said John Marzluff, a University of Washington professor of environmental and forest sciences and the paper’s co-author. “We know that having a livable, green community that attracts birds also increases the value of homes in that area. This paper shows there’s an economic service birds are providing.”
It’s something to consider as development pressures and increased riverfront activity come to bear. There is a lot at stake.
4/15 for $15 in Monroe Park
As part of a larger, national “Tax Day” action, there is a protest for higher wages in Monroe Park this Wednesday. From the FaceBook page:
Working people are fed up with being treated, and paid, like we don’t matter. On April 15, we will stand side-by-side with other workers demanding $15 an hour, the right to form a union and the respect we all deserve.
Join Fast Food Workers with the Raise Up campaign and a coalition of supporting organizations and individuals on Wednesday April 15th, the day before Tax Day, at 5pm in Monroe Park to rally for a $15 dollar an hour living wage for Fast Food Workers!
Volunteers Work On Monroe Park
Neigborhood and VCU volunteers worked on the fountain area at Monroe Park this morning.
Where Is The Monroe Park Conservancy’s Report?
City Council Organizational Development standing committee met yesterday in part to hear an update on Monroe Park Conservancy’s efforts to raise 3 million dollars to initiate the historically sensitive renovation of Monroe Park. This report was requested by Council in January and was already delayed by MPC at this committee’s last meeting. MPC president Alice Massie was a no show. City administration representative Chris Beschler is familiar with the Conservancy but declined to make any comments.
For more background on Monroe Park, please click here, here, here, here, and here.
Gazebo To Get Solar
Oregon Hill residents are gratified that the City workers recently repainted the historic gazebo that sits as the end of S. Pine Street, near the overlook. With the UCI Road World Championship bicycle races approaching, residents are hoping the gazebo will look enticing for spectators.
But now the City has additional news: As part of longterm restoration plans, the gazebo roof will be fitted with not only roof-flush photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and batteries to power the lighting installations around it, but also a retractable solar thermal array that will provide steam for picnic cooking as well as hot beverages in cooler temperatures.
The design for this array comes from Wolfgang Scheffler, who is well know for designing similar arrays for community kitchens across India. City officials expect to have both the PV array and the thermal array up later this summer, as long as they can get past regulation in the City’s VEPGA.
Community Group Releases 21-point Monroe Park Maintenance Plan to Beautify Park before UCI Race in September
From email announcement:
A group of Monroe Park community advocates and former members of the now defunct Richmond City Council appointed Monroe Park Advisory Council are requesting to meet with Volunteer Group Coordinators, City staff, VCU, UCI officials and Richmond and VCU Police in order to focus and leverage any and all available resources and volunteers in order to spruce up Monroe Park in anticipation of the UCI Bike races in September. This meeting will be held Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 3:30PM at Monroe Park’s iconic fountain. The upcoming race and associated international media coverage presents the city with an unprecedented and exceptional opportunity to promote Richmond and its wonderful amenities to millions throughout the planet. Monroe Park is located in a prominent position on the UCI Time Trial Circuit, Team Time Trial Circuit and Road Circuit races.
The group, comprised of Elinor Kuhn, James “Turk” Sties and Todd Woodson have assembled a 21 point plan comprised of relatively inexpensive but effective maintenance and beautification suggestions that will help to present the historic park in the best light to the world. A comprehensive historic renovation of the park will occur at some point in the future but these suggestions would be compatible and are designed for a dramatic improvement in appearance for Richmond’s oldest municipal park. The suggested plan is as follows:1. Restore fountain in appropriate verdigris finish, repaint fountain pool, inspect fountain lights, repair and repaint wrought iron fountain fence, repair supporting masonry, install correct recirculating filtered water pump and feed and mulch fountain plantings.
2. Repair or fill collapsed and non functional drainage inlets.
3. Aerate, fertilize and seed grassy areas.
4. Inspect park irrigation system and replace any broken sprinkler heads.
5. Remove graffiti and paint Checkers house and replace rotted gutters.
6. Level, scrape and paint light poles.
7. Consolidate park signage and remove inappropriate signage.
8. Mulch tree wells and trees in the park.
9. Paint pole of Department of Historic Resources highway marker and prune crepe myrtles to ensure visibility.
10. Install identification marker on rare deciduous Dawn Redwood tree and any other specimen trees.
11.Paint bollards and replace broken ones with any existing attic stock.
12. Establish Checkers House office space as a satellite base for biking Richmond police officers during race week.
13. Install flower beds under Crepe Myrtles and any other appropriate places.
14. Fill in severely rutted areas from past cars and truck mishaps on park grounds.
15. Discuss the city’s public wifi and increase power during race week if necessary.
16. Encourage art installation from VCU School of the Arts during race week.
17. Address any rodent infestation issues in Checkers House.
18. Insure proper removal of trash during community feedings. Ask VCU to stay until 5 on weekends for trash removal and also encourage feeding groups to remove and recycle waste from these events.
19. Suggest better enforcement of existing laws in the park, e.g. no parking inside park, no alcohol or illegal substances and litter control. Encourage police presence in park during race week.
20. Inspect and thoroughly clean bathrooms and monitor during race week.
21. Encourage Richmond City Council to establish a Monroe Park Community Advisory Board comprised of engaged members of surrounding communities and giving them a voice on all future decisions made regarding park policy.
Snowmen of the Linear Park
