Category Archives: parks

Letter on “Richmond’s Monroe Park: The Unfolding Tragedy”

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Open letter from Oregon Hill resident and Monroe Park Advisory Council member Charles Woodson:

Dear Friends,

Two years or so ago when the Monroe Park Advisory Council stopped meeting and an exciting Monroe Park Master Plan was delivered to our City Government, I figured the Park was at its most downtrodden. It was impossible to fathom Monroe Park – our first City Park and one that just oozes with fascinating history and promise of a great rebirth, falling even further into a rotting, even more trash filled and untended and dangerous corpse of a place. On Sunday, July 15, 2012 at around 3PM, that realization slapped me in the face. Three RPD cruisers were parked by the overgrown fountain with blue lights flashing, responding to reports of a “crazy man screaming and brandishing a gun” in the Park (their words). I felt afraid for my life.

Historic Monroe Park is situated equidistant from the James River, the soon to be refurbished $50,000,000.00 Altria Theatre (nee Mosque) project and VCU’s beautifully planned $32,000,000.00 Institute of Contemporary Art but there is no word on poor Monroe Park with its terrific $6,000,000 plan of redemption. No website for either the Park itself or the phantom Monroe Park Foundation exists on the web. Nothing… Nada … just Yelp.com’s disturbing descriptions of drunks and hobos and a few other meaningless entries.

The many feedings continue to pour trash into the Park. Trashcans full after one or two feedings, the patrons sit on the benches beside the fountain and just throw refuse on the ground where it gets blown with the trash can overflow into VCU and the neighborhoods surrounding the historic Park.
The trees need maintenance, some need removal and a hundred or so need planting.
The barren brown grounds, devoid of grass in many areas need work to revive.
The decrepit sidewalks and pathways crumble beneath your feet.
Substance abuse is rampant. I wouldn’t want my kids playing here.

Im ashamed mostly at myself for not being a more consistent voice for this great Park. But im also ashamed of you, Charles Samuels, since this is your district and you were a champion for the Park at one time. And there is shame for the Mayor who I know to be aware of the dire situation. Im also upset with VCU for not putting a boot in our rear ends for not making ANY progress – this is weak leadership on their end as well. This is, after all, their face for the newbies that come crashing into Gladding, Johnson and Rhodes Halls, etc, each August and have to live with this mess.

It’s time to get rid of the running mouths and roll up our sleeves and crack open the city wallet to address these issues.

Sincerely,

Charles Todd Woodson.

His letter included the following photos:

Don’t Swim In The James River Right Now

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From the Times Dispatch article:

About 2.6 million gallons of partially treated sewage flowed into the James River on Saturday when Lynchburg’s sewage-treatment plant lost power from Friday’s thunderstorms, officials said.

The sewage was disinfected with chlorine, but it did not get full treatment, which includes using microbes to break down waste, said Fred DiLella, a water compliance manager for the state Department of Environmental Quality.

The risk to swimmers and paddlers from Lynchburg to Richmond is unclear, but a state Department of Health official said it was probably low.

“I don’t think there is a significant risk, but we want people to be aware that there certainly is a risk from swimming in any water body that is not treated,” said Rebecca LePrell, the department’s director of environmental epidemiology.

People generally should avoid swimming in streams for three days or so after a sewage release or after a heavy rain, which can wash pollutants into waterways, LePrell said. Today is the third day after the Lynchburg release.

People who do get in the James or other rivers should try to avoid swallowing water and avoid swimming with open wounds, LePrell said.

Human and animal waste contain bacteria that can sicken people who ingest river water. Open wounds can become infected.

Health officials did not make an announcement after the sewage release but responded to questions from paddlers and others, LePrell said.

Belle Isle Shooter Sketch Released

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From RPD announcement:

Richmond Police detectives need the public’s help to identify the man in the attached sketch who is suspected of shooting a man on Belle Isle.

Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, two men were approached on the south side of the island by two white males. One of the suspects demanded money, and in the following moments, one male suspect shot and severely wounded one of the victims. Both male suspects then ran away down the bike path that leads to the BMX park.

The victim remains in critical condition.

A sketch of the male shooting suspect is below. He is described as a white male, 18 to 25 years old, approximately 6’0” feet tall with a skinny build and shaved hair. He was last seen wearing a clean white t-shirt over top of blue jeans. He was in the company of an older white male in his 40’s, approximately 6’1” tall, with a skinny but muscular build. The older male was last seen wearing a dark blue, long-sleeved cotton t-shirt, faded blue jeans and a plain blue baseball cap. These men should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with any information about these men or this crime is asked to call Major Crimes Det. Ed Aeschlimann at (804) 646-3351 or the Richmond Police Department Tip Line at (804) 514-TIPS (8477). Citizens may also call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.

Shooting On Belle Island

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The Richmond Times Dispatch is reporting a violent crime from last night:

Richmond police Capt. Yvonne Crowder said the victim was taken to VCU Medical Center and underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries after being shot twice in the chest at 12:07 a.m. at the municipal park, which closes at sundown.

Crowder said the shooting occurred while the 25-year-old victim and a friend were fishing in the area of the old power plant near the southeast corner of the island in the middle of the James River.

Crowder said the men were confronted by two other men, one in his 40s and the other in his mid 20s and one of whom had a handgun. When the robbers tried to rob the fishermen, a struggle ensued and the victim was struck twice in the chest.

Detailed suspect descriptions were not available.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000.

Summer Solstice Power Jam 2012 on Belle Island Tomorrow

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From the Facebook event page:

A Free + Unplugged Show Featuring:

1 – 1:30 p.m. Herro Sugar
1:30 – 2 p.m. The Mothball Fleet
2 – 2:30 p.m. Paul Ivey & The Rubes
2:30 – 3 p.m. Bermuda Triangles
3 – 3:30 p.m. The Milkstains
3:30 – 4 p.m. Tyrannosaurus Awesome
4 – 4:30 p.m. The Garbers
4:30 – 5 p.m. Peace Beast
5 – 5:30 p.m. THE DOG SHOW (not a band, a real dog show)
5:30 – 6 p.m. Broken Pony
6 – 6:30 p.m. Black Liq
6:30 – 7 p.m. Nervous Ticks

Here’s some footage from 2010 (by Silver Persinger):

The Diamond Center: http://vimeo.com/14978251
Nervous Ticks: http://vimeo.com/12815648

The power plant looks like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnRt_W5F_jQ

Fun for all. No plugging in allowed. Bring your dogs and smiles. PICK UP YOUR TRASH, TOO.

Latest Draft of Richmond Riverfront Plan

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Yesterday, the City’s Planning and Development Review announced and released “the Final Draft of the Richmond Riverfront Plan” (click here for large PDF).

Pages 26 to 29, the part of the Plan that deals with “Tredegar Green”, seem most applicable to Oregon Hill. I did not see anything about moving the Confederate White House.

The proposed 2nd Street Connector road is still in the plan, although many questions have still not been answered. More on this soon.

Cherry Street Re-Connection?

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I posted on this before, but new, conflicting information is still coming in.
Neighbors now say that they have heard this new ‘utility road’ from Riverside Park to where S. Cherry Street ends will be permanent.

In fact, Cherry Street used to be fully connected, as it looks on this old map:

Rumor is that neighbors as well as the City’s Parks and Rec Department are concerned by the lack of communication and what this road building is doing to create erosion behind Holly Street Playground.

Residents at the end of S. Cherry Street are also concerned about what this could mean for their enclave in the City, including the historic John Miller house which can be seen now from a new vantage point.