On Saturday, June 6, Brown’s Island will host the 2015 Be the Match Walk & Run. The course suggests that there may be traffic delays on the Lee Memorial Bridge and Manchester Bridge beginning at 7:00 am.
China Street neighbor Manny left the following message on the the 4th Annual OHSOCiT Oregonhill soccer invitational FaceBook Event page:
I appreciate all the team captains and everyone who will be participating in this event. This can’t happen unless there is enough dedicated interest within the soccer community here in RVA. Special thanks goes out to Kevin Carter, Jeremy Clemmons, Michael Delano, Daniel Pegram, Joseph Russell. To those who I just mentioned by name, see you all at 8:30am Saturday at the field.
Manny is also looking for volunteer help for tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon that can help prepare the Oregon Hill soccer field for this fund raising tournament.
Phil Riggan, who now writes the “Why Richmond, Why?” column for the Richmond Times Dispatch, earlier this week presented his final project for his VCU studies, a plan for making the Kanawha Canal between Oregon Hill and Bosher’s Dam into a recreational ‘blueway” for the James River Park system.
Click here for a copy of his presentation. A full written report/plan should be available in the near future after Riggan makes some final edits.
A couple of points about the plan- It was made with the help of the Friends of James River Park and the James River Outdoor Coalition. Nathan Burrell, the Director of James River Park, afterwards remarked that he thought it was actionable and doable now, as long as there was permission of stakeholders (CSX, Department of Public Utilities (DPU), and others) and available financial resources. It has already received letters of support from the James River Association and the Falls of the James Scenic River Advisory Committee.
Riggan knows about the 1988 canal restoration plan (the one that Venture Richmond ignored) and says he has included it in his final report. It is noteworthy that his plan starts with “Mile 1” at the start of the North Bank Trail near the S. Cherry cul-de-sac, and not “Mile 0” near the Lee Bridge. Riggan’s plan recognizes that DPU needs to complete engineering in order to get the water level right for recreational traffic (elevation verified at 83 feet). Some Oregon Hill neighbors are suspicious that perhaps that was the real goal of the Tredegar Green amphitheater, to damage the historic Kanawha Canal to the point where now the terminus of the “rewatered” canal is at “Mile 1”. That said, Riggan’s plan comes from a recreational paddling sport perspective and if it is successful, it may increase pressure for FULLY renovating, re-watering, and re-connecting Richmond’s historic canals.
The Virginia War Memorial 5K Run/Walk To Remember will be Saturday, April 18th. The race kicks off at the Memorial @ 8:30 a.m. and will be travelling through Oregon Hill between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Organizers are expecting 500+ participants and over 600 military running in formation. There will be Course Marshals and Fort Lee soldiers along the route and at each corner. Richmond City Police will be involved with the race too. Only 2nd street and Belvidere from Byrd Street to the Lee Bridge entrance ramp will be closed, but due to the number of participants there might be a few delays on the streets involved.
This race is a wonderful opportunity for the public to honor and remember veterans.
From email:
Dear Neighbors:
The Richmond Marathon takes place Saturday, November 15 and several roads in the city will be affected/closed in the morning hours:
5th Street will be closed from Broad St to Tredegar St starting 4:00am to 4:00pm
Broad Street (both eastbound and westbound) between 5th and 11th Streets will be closed to traffic from 4am to 10am. Westbound traffic will be detoured north onto 11thStreet and west on Leigh Street.
Broad Street (both eastbound and westbound) between 5th Street and N. Boulevard will be closed from 6 to 9am. Eastbound traffic will be detoured north on Sheppard Street, east on Marshall Street, north on the Boulevard, east on Leigh Street, south on 10thStreet, east on Marshall Street, south on 12th Street back to Broad Street.
Grace Street from Allen Ave. to 3rd Street will be closed from 6am to 3pm.
3rd Street from Broad Street to Cary Street will be closed from 6am to 3pm.
Mulberry Street between Broad St. and Monument Ave. will be closed from 6 to 9am for the HCA Virginia 8K.
Grace Street will be closed between Boulevard and Allen Ave. from 6 to 9am for the HCA Virginia 8K.
Lombardy Street between Brook Rd. and Monument Ave will be closed from 7am to 3pm.
North Boulevard northbound from Broad St. to Hermitage Rd. will be closed from 7 to 10am for the American Family Fitness Half Marathon.
Hermitage Road northbound from Boulevard to Pope Ave will be closed from 7 to 10am for the American Family Fitness Half Marathon.
Brookland Parkway both eastbound and westbound from Hermitage Rd. to Lamont St. will be closed from 7 to 10am for the American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Bellvue Avenue from Hermitage Rd to Bryan Park entrance will be closed from 7AM to 10AM for the American Family Fitness Half Marathon.
Monument Avenue westbound between Mulberry and Westmoreland will be closed from 7:30 to 9:30am.
Westmoreland between Monument Ave and Grove Ave will be closed from 7:30am to 10am.
Grove Avenue westbound between Commonwealth and Maple will be closed from 7:30 to 10:00am.
Maple Avenue from Grove to Cary Street will be closed from 7:30am to 10:00am
The Huguenot Bridge will be closed to all traffic from 8:00am to 11:00am. Northbound traffic on Huguenot Road will be detoured north from Huguenot Road onto Chippenham Parkway to the Willey Bridge.
Riverside Dr. will be closed from the Huguenot Bridge to Scottview Drive from 6am to Noon.
Forest Hill Ave. westbound from Roanoke St. to Hathaway Rd. will be closed from 8 to 11:30am.
Semmes Ave. Westbound from Cowardin Ave. to Roanoke St. will be closed from 8:30am to Noon
Belvidere Street northbound at Grace Street will be closed from 7am to 3pm. The recommended detour will be east on Byrd Street to the Downtown Expressway eastbound to I-95 northbound.
West Main Street, from Belvidere to Boulevard will be closed from 9:00am 1:00pm. Westbound traffic Main St will be detoured North on Belvidere, East on Franklin, and South on 1st Street to the Westbound Downtown Expressway.
Belvidere Street southbound between Broad and Grace Streets will be closed from 7am to 3pm. The recommended detour for southbound Belvidere Street will be onto I-95 southbound just north of Leigh Street
The southbound exit ramp from the Powhite Parkway to Forest Hill Avenue and the northbound entrance ramp from westbound Forest Hill Avenue onto the Powhite Parkway will be closed to traffic from 8am until approximately 11am.
There will also be numerous and frequent lane closures along the Marathon, Half Marathon & 8k routes, including closures on: Broad Street, North Boulevard, Monument Avenue, Grove Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cary Street Road, River Road, Scottview Drive, Forest Hill Avenue, Semmes Avenue, the Lee Bridge, Belvidere Street, West Main Street, Hermitage Road, Fauqier Avenue, Brook Road. Motorists are advised to use extreme caution when entering these roadways or making turns across the runners’ paths along these roadways.The race begins at 8:00 am and roads will be affected for several hours. There are 6,500 runners competing in the full marathon. Residents should be on the lookout on Friday night and Saturday for No Parking signs/restrictions along the routes and runners on Saturday!
Sincerely,
Ida Jones
5th District Council Liaison
From press release:
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Lobs & Lessons program is holding a nighttime glow-in-the-dark tennis event as part of its 10th anniversary celebration.
“Lobs & Lights” will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 8 p.m. until midnight at VCU’s Mary and Frances Youth Center, 120 S. Linden St., Richmond. The cost is $18 for adults, $14 for college students and $8 for those 17 and younger, who must be accompanied by an adult. The cost for adults and college students increases by $5 if tickets are purchased at the door. In the event of rain, the event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1.
“Lobs & Lights” will begin with a “Youth Glow Zone” from 8 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., with fluorescent face painting and glow chalk, QuickStart Tennis, table tennis and carnival games.
“Adult Neon Tennis” will be held from 9:30 p.m. until midnight and features cardio tennis, group tennis games, a one-point singles tournament and a serve and target contest.
Glow bowling, corn hole, arts and crafts and music with DJ Rodney S will take place during the event, which is sponsored by the USTA/Mid-Atlantic, Perkins Law, Center of the Universe Brewing Company, Sports Vision, Alpha Graphics, Richmond Raiders, Courtside West, Volley Futbol and Escape Creative.
Visit https://www.support.vcu.edu/event/lobsandlights to register for the event or contact Rachel Rhoney at rhoneyrb@vcu.edu or (804) 828-9276 for more information.
Oregon Hill’s Bunnyhop Bike Shop employees promise to “bring it” to Balance Bike Shop‘s Flat Fix Competition.
From the contest FaceBook page:
Do YOU think you have what it takes to be the best at fixing flats?
We are hoping to get 22 people who want to try and win a bunch of cool prizes.
1st Place: 20″ Cannondale M200 w/o wheels OR Brooks Professional saddle
2nd Place: As first loser, you get seconds on whatever the champ didn’t want.
3rd Place: As thrid loser, you get a Wald Pizza Rack. Probably better to get nothing at all.If we get 22 people, we will do a bracket style competition.
Fair warning, shop employees will compete. The first 22 people to write “confirm” BALANCE BICYCLE”S FACEBOOK ONLY. WE CAN’T SEE OTHER PEOPLES FACEBOOKS!!!!
Don’t be a dick and confirm if you can’t come. Also, we have the prizes, you have the refreshments.
It all happens this coming Thursday, July 31 at 8 pm at Balance’s 904 W. Broad shop.
From 1954. Recognize anyone?
Photo from Visual and Vintage Virginia, with permission to share from Denise Bigger.
Inspired by Michael Bierut’s 100 Day Project, 100 Days to a Better RVA strives to introduce and investigate unique ideas to improving the city of Richmond.
From Day #5 article:
Take the Holly Street Park in Oregon Hill. The James River Park System could reclaim an old phone booth, cover it with murals, and put it at the bottom of the concrete ramp leading to the fields. Inside: basketballs, footballs, dodgeballs, frisbees, and jump ropes left by families who have upgraded or leftovers from the VCU Rec Center. A handy pump for the balls could also be tucked inside. Finally, a simple inscription: take a basketball, return a frisbee.
“Little free sports libraries” would be a very low cost way to provide a great pubic service. The boxes would be the largest cost, but there’s also plenty of room for creative ideas. Phone booths are near useless and could be repurposed. Old gutted vending machines could also do the job. Imagination is the only limitation.
Editor’s Note: Holly Street Playground is managed by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, not the James River Park system.
