From Times Dispatch editorial page this morning:
“VCU’s new sign at the corner of Main and Belvidere streets in Monroe Park does not flatter its surroundings.”
Will any other local media acknowledge the controversy?
The sign is back.
From neighbor Todd Woodson:
Sad to report, as of Monday, nov 4, 2013, VCU has reinstalled this huge way faring sign at w main and Belvidere, obstructing sight lines through Richmonds oldest and most historic city park. This arrogant move serves as a prelude to the proposed turnover of this beautiful sylvan asset, which belongs to the citizenry of Richmond. Please contact your city council representative if you disapprove.
From the FaceBook event page:
Come one come all on Friday October 25th to a Halloween Bike Parade!
Critical Mass/ bike parades are typically on the last Friday of every month.
5pm meet up in Monroe Park near the fountain. The ride will leave at 6pm!
Costumes encouraged as long as they aren’t the racist/sexist variety or other oppressive costumes.Bring music, signs, kids, etc. To celebrate bikes and Halloween!
The ride will be a group ride and we will try to stick together- its no race!
Oregon Hill neighbor had the Letter of the Day in the Times Dispatch this morning:
Renovate Monroe Park carefully
Editor, Times-Dispatch:
Monroe Park is Richmond’s first and most historic municipal park. Once the site of an agricultural fairground, the city’s first baseball games and concerts by Bruce Springsteen and Jerry Lee Lewis, the city’s upcoming $6.2 million historically sensitive renovation is cause for jubilation as the park has fallen into deep disrepair.
As we improve the physical aspects of Monroe Park, let’s not forget its essence which should also be preserved and celebrated. As a forum for free speech over the years, the grounds have echoed with voices supporting civil rights, reasonable gun control, anti-war sentiment and other just causes.
Its beautiful old-growth trees have shaded generations of Richmonders and deserve protection, care and augmentation to re-establish the lush greenery of its historic era circa 1900. A conservation easement such as the one placed on James River Park is strongly advised to define that protection.
The park also needs a zero impact policy with enforcement regarding bringing large amounts of trash in for feedings, etc. Too often groups come in and leave huge amounts of garbage on the ground, which eventually gets blown by the wind into surrounding neighborhoods. It should be a group’s responsibility to remove what it brings into the park. The city must step up, enforce these rules and provide requisite supervision. Richmond Parks Division simply can’t cover this job.
What the park doesn’t need is to be transferred via lease to a third party, establishing VCU as the operating agency. This could destroy its essence as a free gathering space and homogenize it into something very different. Monroe Park is not Maymont; it is a 7.5-acre green space well within the city’s capacity to manage.
The renovated Monroe Park should welcome all residents, students and visitors with open arms. It can truly be Richmond’s gem.
C. Todd Woodson. Richmond.
(ed. note: This letter comes after VCU recently placed a metal billboard sign up in Monroe Park but then removed it after the City declared it illegal. There is another controversial VCU sign at the corner of Belvidere and Cumberland that has not been acted on yet.)
Community Movie Night
Friday, September 27 at dusk
in Pleasants Park
Last night at the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting, most of the discussion was about Venture Richmond forcing a 10,000 person theater upon the neighborhood, with no restrictions.
There was also a short presentation by Kern Smith on a business plan to put zip lines across the James River in several places, including a site near the Lee Bridge on Oregon Hill’s side. It remains to be seen if this will be considered an acceptable use under the James River Park Conservation Easement.
Here is a video of a zip line, similar to what is being proposed, in action in San Francisco:
Picture taken from alley in within 600 block of Pine Street next to Parsons Linear Park.
Picture in the opposite direction:
From email announcement:
Community Movie Night
Friday, August 30 at dusk
(Retro Night)Pleasants Park
Refreshments Served
Bicycle Parade info from FaceBook event page:
Come out for the monthly bicycle parade!
Every last Friday of the month!
6pm in Monroe ParkBring a freaky bike or your everyday rider
Bring your own flags, costumes, music, etc!!
(BBQ Bikes get extra credit)Riders of all sorts and skill levels welcome
Pace will be casual, set for the slowest rider
Marshals will help communicate and keep the ride safe from car trafficUPDATE: -The first direction of the parade will be passing by the Federal Courthouse at 7th and Broad, where our friends are holding a rally and march against US military involvement in Syria.
We are changing the normal route and making a pass by the demonstration as a gesture of solidarity with those affected by the struggle in Syria, as well as to support the message against US involvement. So, we encourage folks to bring signs, flags, etc to show support.
The ride will only pass by, and continue on from there, but anyone is welcome to depart and join the demonstration.
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Speaking of Syria, there is a 9 am protest against war at Syria at Monroe Park on Saturday, part of the international morning of protests happening around the world. And , speaking of protests, although it is not happening in Monroe Park , there is the March on Richmond for Jobs and Freedom on Saturday as well:
People from across the Richmond region will march for fairness, social justice, and expanded business and employment opportunities. We will gather at Festival Park behind the Richmond Coliseum by 9:00 a.m. Marchers will depart at 10:00 a.m. and proceed to the Bell Tower on Capitol Square for an 11:00 a.m. rally. The March on Richmond commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
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At the same time, it is worth noting that VCU is still putting up obnoxious signage everywhere. VCU just installed banners on the northern side of Monroe Park on light poles situated on the sidewalk right of way. They even installed one in front of the Prestwould. Have these passed muster with the City’s Department of Public Works? Monroe Park is Richmond’s oldest and most historic municipal PUBLIC park, listed on both the state and the federal registers of historic places. Are these signs a measure foreshadowing a takeover of the park by VCU and the proposed lease with the Monroe Park Foundation?
Pine Street Baptist Church held a welcoming party for VCU students yesterday evening in Pleasants Park.
