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90º | 7% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 5:53 a.m. | Sunset 8:34 p.m.
 

🌳 Get inspired, Richmond

Richmond Parks and Recreation to create first citywide vision plan since 1970s
RICtoday_ParksGuide_ForestHill
The vision plan should help secure the future of local parks, like Forest Hill Park.
The River City has some stellar parks, many of which are part of the Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities. This year, PRCF is creating a citywide vision plan for the first time since the 1970s.

It’s called Richmond INSPIRE — aka Imagining Neighborhood-Shaping Parks and Inclusive Recreation Experiences.

The vision plan will reach the 170+ parks, playgrounds, and fields managed by PRCF, as well as its 20 community centers.

What will the plan do?

Rather than proposing specific or immediate changes, the plan will be used as a long-term guide to allocate resources and make meaningful investments in capital improvements.

PRCF says it wants to use the plan to help address deferred maintenance, curate programming, and make equitable investments in the future.

Funds for the plan were included in the last round of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation.

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PRCF’s programming includes the annual Festival of Arts at Dogwood Dell.

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Photo by RICtoday

Timeline

PRCF anticipates that the planning process will take around 15 months, starting with a six-month phase kicking off this month. City Council will need to adopt the plan, which could be voted on as early as winter 2025.

This summer, PRCF will launch a survey asking Richmonders about Parks and Recreation — what they love, what they think could be improved, and what they imagine for the future.

The survey hasn’t launched yet, but we’ll be sure to share when it does.

Get involved

Apply to join the steering committee and help bring the plan to life. Members will participate in several meetings, provide feedback and data to the project team, review draft documents, and help with public engagement around the plan. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 12.

Look out for a series of workshops this fall discussing visions and priorities for PRCF. Attendees will be able to review the planning team’s findings and share their thoughts.

You can also give your feedback at any time by emailing the planning team.
Quiz

“Western Square” was one of the first properties acquired by Richmond Parks and Recreation. What is the park known as now?
A. Byrd Park
B. Monroe Park
C. Battery Park
D. Bryan Park
Test your park knowledge
Virginia Lottery
 
Events
Wednesday, July 3
  • Dominion Energy Jazz Café: Afro Zen All Stars | Wednesday, July 3 | 6-8 p.m. | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free | Head to the atrium to experience the intersection of African musical traditions and American jazz and jam.
  • Kickers vs. Forward Madison FC | Wednesday, July 3 | 8 p.m. | City Stadium, 3201 Maplewood Ave., Richmond | $17-$40 | Cheer on the Kickers and get in on the Red, White, and Roo festivities at City Stadium.
Thursday, July 4
  • VMHC Commemorates July 4th With Citizenship Ceremony and Celebration | Thursday, July 4 | 11 a.m. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free | Celebrate America at the VMHC’s annual Independence Day citizenship ceremony + celebration. Enjoy live music, a scavenger hunt, and cake to commemorate America’s 248th birthday.*
  • The Big Show – Fourth of July | Thursday, July 4 | 5:30-10 p.m. | Dogwood Dell, 600 S. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free | The Richmond Concert Jazz Band will perform at 5:30, followed by the Richmond Concert Band at 7:30 and a fireworks display at 9:15.
  • “Independence Day” | Thursday, July 4 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $9 | Today, we celebrate our Independence Day at the Byrd with a screening of this Roland Emmerich film.
Friday, July 5
  • Maggie Walker’s 160th Birthday Kick-Off | Friday, July 5 | 5-11 p.m. | Gallery5, 200 W. Marshall St., Richmond | Free | Celebrate the Richmond icon’s birthday with music by the Love Movement, Axt Museum, and Big Fancy, plus a student art show.
Saturday, July 6
  • Flying Squirrels vs. Bowie Baysox | Saturday, July 6 | 6:05 p.m. | The Diamond, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | $10-$25 | The first 2,000 fans will receive a red, white, and blue glow wand to light up the stands.
  • Chandler | Saturday, July 6 | 7 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall, 623 E. Main St., Richmond | $10 | Lunch $pecial, TMA, Kaay Taurus, DJ TuffLuck, and Fellaair join the rapper for Wet Hot Chandler Summer.
Sunday, July 7
  • Sunday Bagel Pop-Up | Sunday, July 7 | 10 a.m. | Väsen Brewing Company, 3331 W. Moore St., Richmond | Cost of purchase | Get there early to snag a bagel from this popular pop-up and catch a bit of the Tour de France.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Edu
  • Dawn Page is the new chair of the Richmond School Board. The 8th District representative was elected by unanimous vote on Monday evening, after former chair Stephanie Rizzi announced her resignation and left the meeting. Rizzi will continue to represent the 5th District on the board. (ABC 8News)
Eat
  • A new restaurant from the owners of Blue Habanero is coming to the former Lalo’s Cocina location on Broad Street. La Playa Mexican Food and Mariscos will have a seafood-centric menu and beach-y drinks. It should be open in a few months. (Richmond BizSense)
Civic
  • The city is looking for Richmonders to serve on the Civilian Review Board. The eight-person board investigates and makes recommendations to city leaders on internal Richmond Police Dept. investigations. Look at the requirements and apply by Aug. 30.
Transit
  • We’re getting closer to the Raleigh-to-Richmond train trip of your dreams — ground was broken in North Carolina on Monday. The first leg of the high-speed rail project will connect Raleigh and Wake Forest before it extends to the River City. (NC Newsline)
State
  • The majority of the new laws passed during the General Assembly’s winter session are now in effect. Check out this roundup to see what has changed, from permanent to-go cocktails to all-terrain wheelchairs in state parks. (VPM)
Outdoors
  • Applications to join the Richmond Tree Stewards are open. Program participants complete the training course and commit to volunteering 15-20 hours a year to support urban forest efforts. Apply by Wednesday, July 31; classes begin in September.
Film
  • See over 10 short films by local filmmakers at the 804 Film Festival this Saturday, July 6 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Byrd Theatre. Tickets are $12. Bonus: When the credits roll, head to Gallery5 for an after party with live music.
Sports
  • The Spiders are headed to Spain. UR women’s basketball will play several exhibition games Aug. 4-13. Coach Aaron Roussell pitched the trip as a way to retain players, attract new transfer talent, and build chemistry. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
 
Arts

🎨 Local art wanted

Local art wanted for First Friday exhibition
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The exhibition will consist of 2D works inspired by artistic expression outside the mainstream, like street art. | Photo by RICtoday, art by The Night Owl
The Library of Virginia is looking for artists to be part of its “Virginia Stories: Underground Art” exhibition in September.

The exhibition will be the third installment of the library’s quarterly “Virginia Stories” series, which features the work of Virginia artists.

September’s display will highlight art outside of the mainstream, from graffiti to tattoos to comic strips. Check out the regulations and submit your work for consideration by Aug. 10.

An exhibition reception will take place during First Fridays on Sept. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. You can also swing by the library to see the exhibition before it closes Oct. 6.

Pro tip: If the underground theme doesn’t grab you, November’s exhibition will focus on art inspired by architecture. Submissions will be due by Oct. 10.
The Buy

The Buy 7.03.24 (Affiliate)
Lightweight, keeps-you-cool basics from 32 Degrees. Stock up during the Fourth of July sale — cool technology tops start at $3.99 and bottoms start at $4.99.
 
The Wrap
 
Robin Schwartzkopf in a red button down shirt

Today’s edition by:
Robin
From the editor
I’m excited to follow the Richmond INSPIRE planning process — and not just because I’m impressed with the acronym. If you see me at a workshop this fall, say hey.
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