Community Movie Night Friday, August 3, 8:45 PM in Pleasants Park Refreshments served
Penguins in the Park- Community Movie Tonight
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Category Archives: parks
Kanawha Canal
Looking west near entrance of North Bank Trail (notice flowing water):
Looking west from new pedestrian canal bridge:
You may have heard of greenways, the Kanawha Canal is one of Richmond’s original ‘blueways’.
From a current Canal Walk display:
Washington’s vision was to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River with navigable rivers, canals, and a land portage through what is now West Virginia. After the Revolution, the James River Company was created, primarily as a result of his sponsorship and lobbying efforts. Before Washington’s death in 1799, a large portion of his dream had been realized.
Two canals bypassed the falls of the James River at Richmond, and 220 miles of river improvements extended westward. In the early 19th century, other farsighted Virginians took over Washington’s leadership role. The final elements of his plan were completed in the 1820s, when the Kanawha Turnpike joined the headwaters of the James River to the Kanawha River. In 1835, the James River and Kanawha Company was formed, and within 15 years a canal system stretched to Buchanan, Virginia, a distance of 197 miles.
Underwater Choir Recording Scheduled for August
As the new group RVA League of Leisure and Public Pool Appreciation takes shape, some events are starting to be scheduled. This one is for August 11 at 1 pm in the bottom of the Randolph Public Pool. Practice, practice, practice.
From the Facebook event page:
This event’s platform is continuing to re-envision our public space while providing a recognizable pastime in performance. The direction of this recording situates the group in a circle formation dialoging to one another. Submerging together the group screamingly sing which will be received through the condenser microphones in the center of the ring.
Advancing towards this event I realized that this pastime of underwater vocal projection is enjoyed through basic achievement in absurdity. The enlarged statement making of the group dilutes any talent, content, or exacted consciousness. This fundamental encourages participation whether cloaked or not and now being said i hope to see you, my friends, at Randolph Public Pool 1pm sharp for a musical collapsing of classical reservations. hahaha ♥
Letter on “Richmond’s Monroe Park: The Unfolding Tragedy”
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:
Good Morning
Get ready for another hot one. Hopefully rain soon.
Don’t Swim In The James River Right Now
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
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.
It’s Elementary – Community Movie Night
Shooting On Belle Island
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.