Richmond Takes Action to Ensure Residents Have Better Access to Green Spaces
Nov 27, 2020 11:25AM ● By Justin DoyleThe James River Matters
Richmond’s Green Team, formed
by Mayor Levar Stoney in January to identify and prioritize city-owned parcels
of land that are candidates to become parks and green spaces in areas of the
city in which access is poor, found that it tends to be poorest in communities of
color south of the James River.
Following the recommendations
of the Green Team, Mayor Stoney and 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell
recently proposed the creation of five new public green spaces on city-owned
parcels in Richmond’s southside comprising a total of 36 acres in order to
improve access to green spaces for local residents.
Mayor Stoney, Councilwoman
Trammell and Councilman Michael Jones (9th District) introduced an ordinance to
designate the five subject city-owned parcels as public parks at the City
Council meeting held on September 28 and will be considered by City Council’s
Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee in October. If City
Council passes the ordinance, five new parks will be designed using community
input. The proposed
parks are Broad Rock Creek Park, Ernest Road Park, Hioaks Park, Reedy Creek
Wetland Park and Rosemont Road Park. The James River Association (JRA)
contributed to the identification of these prospective parks as a member of the
Green Team and is a champion of expanding public access to the James River and
its tributaries through the creation of riverside parks.
Parks and green spaces
promote community resiliency by reducing the urban heat island effect, sequestering
carbon emissions, improving local air quality and absorbing stormwater that
contributes to localized flooding and river pollution. Help advocate for an
accessible James River enjoyed by resilient communities by joining the JRA
Action Network at TheJamesRiver.org/What-You-Can-Do/Take-Action.
For more information, visit TheJamesRiver.org.
In-Print, Local RVA
The James River
The James River Matters
Mayor Levar Stoney
November 2020
November-December 2020
Richmond’s Green Team
green spaces
James River
8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell
Councilman Michael Jones (9th District)
public parks
City Council’s Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee
Broad Rock Creek Park
Ernest Road Park
Hioaks Park
Reedy Creek Wetland Park
Rosemont Road Park
The James River Association
riverside parks
December 2020