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River City Saunter to highlight Richmond’s potential, Downtown Master Plan

Join the Partnership for Smarter Growth the River City Saunter, a smart growth bus tour that will include experts guides such as Rachel Flynn (Director of Community Development, City of Richmond), Brooke Hardin (Principle Planner, City of Richmond), Daniel Moore (Principle Planner, Department of Conservation and Recreation) on Sunday Sept.21 from 2-4PM.

What: Educational Smart Growth Bus Tour of the City of Richmond, followed by a Smart Growth Celebration at Legend Brewing Company

When: Sunday, September 21; Bus tour from 2 to 4 pm; Smart Growth Celebration from 4 to 6 pm.

Where: Tour begins and ends at Legend Brewing Company, 321 West 7th Street, Richmond

Who: Sponsored by the Partnership for Smarter Growth, the tour for up to 150 people will include experts guides from the City: Rachel Flynn, Director of Community Development, City of Richmond; Brooke Hardin, Principle Planner, City of Richmond; and Daniel Moore, Principle Planner, Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Cost: Media – Free. Public tickets are $25.00 each and available for purchase online or by calling 804-225-1902

Visuals: Public celebration, Richmond’s history, parks, new development, successes and failures, changes proposed by the Downtown Master Plan, and the view of the City from the southside of the river.

BACKGROUND: The bus tour will immerse participants in the City’s development history, successes and failures – and open eyes to the River City’s potential. It takes place as the City Council is considering adoption of the new Downtown Master Plan, created with record public involvement and enthusiasm. This celebration of Richmond has been organized by the Partnership for Smarter Growth which has helped to collect over 1000 signatures in support of the new Downtown Plan.

The celebration at Legend will feature:

• Remarks welcoming participants
• Educational exhibits from supporting non-profits and businesses
• Locally grown heavy hors d’oeuvres created by Chef Adam Hawkins
• Locally brewed Legend beer
• Live music featuring the eclectic roots rock of Richmond’s own MOOSSA.
• The unveiling of our winter raffle drive – a magnificent scooter donated by Scoot Richmond. Buy a $5.00 ticket you may ride away with a Fiddle 2009 Scooter!
• A silent auction showcasing bike equipment, transit-passes, hiking gear, adventure excursions, and other exciting transportation alternative items as well as local food products from the following generous donors: River Outfitters, Ellwood Thompson’s, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Agee’s Bicycles, Rowlett’s Bicycles, Mongrel Gift Shop, Bev’s Ice Cream, Rostov’s Coffee and Tea, Segway of Richmond, Mark’s Produce, GRTC, pleine-aire artist Clelia Sheppard, and more.

The Partnership for Smarter Growth (PSG), a project of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters – Education Fund (VALCV-EF), is the regional hub for smarter growth education and implementation. We are a dynamic coalition bringing together people from nine area jurisdictions, illustrating the choices we can make in planning where and how we should grow. PSG addresses the interconnected issues of land use, transportation, housing, conservation, local farming, and economic development integral to our quality of life.

PSG thanks our generous sponsors: Legend Brewing Company, Scoot Richmond, Citizens Concerned with Goochland Growth, Virginia Farm Bureau’s Save Our Food Campaign, First Market Bank/Ukrop’s, Richmond Association of REALTORS, Coalition for Smarter Growth, and

Falls of the James Group – Sierra Club, RA MORE, Proforma Graphic Information Services and Greg Rollins, Riverside Outfitters, Ellwood Thompsons, Scenic Virginia, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Jane Koontz, Michele Satterlund and Macaulay & Burtch, P.C., Richard Taylor, Better Housing Coalition, Powhatan Tomorrow, Pam McCune, Friends of Urban Forrestry, Virginians for High Speed Rail, and more committed individuals, organizations, and businesses.

Visit www.psgrichmond.org and contact Sheila at 804-225-1902, psg@psgrichmond.org.