RECENT COMMENTS
Final voting for Jefferson Avenue Pocket Park design is Thursday
Designs by Alex Beatty, Zack Saunders, Naomi Siodmok, Bennett Smith, and Scott Wiley have been selected by the judges as finalists for the Jefferson Avenue Pocket Park Design Competition.
All are invited out to vote at the final, public round of judging on Thursday, October 30 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the East District Family Resource Center (2405 Jefferson Ave). Come meet the finalists and view their creative designs (PREVIEW HERE). All members of the public attending will be given the opportunity to vote for the favorite design. These votes will be added to the panel of judges’ final score to determine the ultimate winner.
The Jefferson Pocket Park competition aims to beautify and transform the Jefferson Avenue corridor into a cherished, environmentally friendly community space focusing on the triangular plot of land at 2221 Jefferson Avenue in Richmond. Better Housing Coalition (BHC) and BHC’s junior board have collaborated with Storefront for Community Design, Friends of Jefferson Park, and the Enrichmond Foundation to support the competition and development of the pocket park.
The goal is to submit a final design to appropriate City departments by Spring 2015 with fundraising to take place soon after, with installation to occur sometime in 2016.
David Conmy, on behalf of 3HC, the junior board of The Better Housing Coalition, says:
Many thanks to our partners: Better Housing Coalition, Storefront for Community Design, Friends of Jefferson Park, and EnRichmond Foundation. We would also like to thank our panel of judges:
- Doug Cole, City of Richmond Planning Commission
- Andrea Almond, City of Richmond Urban Design Commission
- Giles Harnsberger, City of Richmond Urban Design Commission
- Greta Harris, President and CEO, Better Housing Coalition
- David Herring, Vice President, Center for Neighborhood Revitalization, Better Housing Coalition
- Barbara Branch, Church Hill Central Civic Association
- Bill Conkle, Friends of Jefferson Park
- Mary Field, Union Hill Civic Association
- John Johnson, Church Hill Association
These are all great. Two Hills is especially interesting. Hope they can safely move the youngish elm now located in the middle when they implement.
I really dig Two Hills, as well, particularly because of its nod to both neighborhoods and to Jefferson Ave’s past life as an impassable ravine.
Mark Kronenthal and I geurilla-planted that elm several years back and would be happy to help move it if it isn’t a part of future plans for the pocket park. There used to be so many elms up here. I’d love to see some disease-resistant varietals returned to unused tree wells.
Thanks for posting, John. Here’s a link to the Facebook event, where comments and sharing are welcome. https://www.facebook.com/events/708578609236302/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular
Thanks to everyone who prepared and submitted a plan for the park. The citizens of this community will benefit from your hard work and expertise–and that should never go unnoticed. Even if your plan isn’t selected, please know that your efforts are appreciated–and valued. Your plans raised the bar for the pocket-park’s design.
And thanks for all the long hours put in by the group of neighbors and advocates who are passionate about improving QOL in the urban communities of Richmond.
This is a 100% volunteer effort and its zipping along at a swell pace. Kudos and thank you, to you all involved.