Category Archives: parks

James River Park Activities

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James River Park System Belle Isle Hike Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Tredegar Parking Area (300 Tredegar Street)
Meet at Tredegar Parking Area. We’ll cross over to Belle Isle and explore the rich history of the island. jamesriverpark.org/calendar/. Contact: Tyler Twyford, 804-687-0701.

James River Parks System Trail Run Every Wednesday and Friday in October, 6-7 a.m., Reedy Creek Parking Lot (4301 Riverside Drive)
Explore the Main Area of James River Park when the warm weather’s at its best- early in the morning. All fitness and ability levels are welcome for these conversation-paced trail runs. Cost: Free! Meeting Location: Reedy Creek Parking Lot, 4301 Riverside Dr., Richmond 23219. jamesriverpark.org/calendar/. Contact: Penelope Davenport, Penelope.Davenport@Richmondgov.com

James River Park System Mountain Bike Mania Every Wednesday in October, 5-7 p.m., Reedy Creek Visitors Center (4301 Riverside Drive)
Come ride bikes in the James River Park Trail System. We have terrain suitable for all skill levels, and bikes to rent to get you out there. Meet at JRPS headquarters to get outfitted before we hit the trails. Our destination will depend on the group’s inclinations. These rides are open to ages 16-99. No prior mountain biking experience is necessary, but you must be comfortable riding a bike. jamesriverpark.org/calendar/. Contact: Penelope Davenport, Penelope.Davenport@Richmondgov.com

Belle Isle History Hike

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From description:

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 11-1 p.m., Belle Isle at James River
Join the James River Park System for a family friendly hike to one of Richmond’s historic gems, Belle Isle. Learn about the geologic and human history of the area and the role Richmond played in the development of our nation. Please bring water, a snack and good shoes. Register for this event by visiting the James River Park System calendar page (jamesriverpark.org/calendar), then click on the calendar event and follow registration instructions. Event is free to the public. Meet at Tredegar Parking Area. Contact: Tyler Twyford, (804) 687-0701

Table Falls On Belle Island Pedestrian Bridge

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WTVR has a dramatic story with photos of a dining table that fell onto the Belle Island pedestrian bridge this past Sunday.

Excerpts:

Terry Davis never expected a stroll across the pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle to shake her up so much. But it did on Sunday. As she and her friend crossed the walkway, she said she heard a thunderous sound.

“‘What is that noise?’ I asked. I looked up and there was this huge table laying in the center of the walk area of the pedestrian bridge,” Davis said.

She said she believed somehow a banquet table fell nearly 60 feet from a gaping space above the pedestrian walkway from the Lee Bridge.

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Davis and others who use the pedestrian walkway often, said they’d like to see the city install some type of safety barrier.

Richmond Public Works spokesperson Sharon North said the city would send out a crew to inspect for damage. Workers were seen removing the table from a nearby area under the walkway Monday afternoon.

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North said the city has no plan to install a safety barrier above the pedestrian walkway. The department sent out an inspector to check for damage and concluded that someone may have rolled the table out onto this pedestrian walkway and left it.

Witnesses who heard the crash said they don’t buy that theory.

UCI Bicycle Race Leaves Monroe Park In The Dust

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Some choice excerpts from the Times Dispatch article:

Monroe Park will not host a designated fan zone during the UCI 2015 Road World Championships despite plans to the contrary and tens of thousands of dollars in city expense to improve the space.
A sponsor that loosely agreed to underwrite the celebration space in the Fan District switched gears in recent weeks, according to officials with Richmond 2015, the organization putting on the event.

The group declined to name the sponsor but said it had shifted to another space along the course. Officials would not detail costs associated with sponsoring a zone at the park. The move did not affect fundraising, they said.
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Todd Woodson, who lives in neighboring Oregon Hill, said the city had squandered taxpayers’ money.
“We’re in a crisis of leadership in this city and we’re hemorrhaging money,” Woodson said.
About 300 feet of a water line along Franklin Street was damaged during work done this spring, officials said at the time. How much the damage cost was unclear Monday. City officials were not able to provide an estimate.