Historic Calhoun Community Center 

Information on this project will be forthcoming.

Richmond Inspire: A Citywide Vision Plan for PRCF

The goal of the plan is to envision a world-class park and recreation system that is equitable, resilient, and loved by all. This plan—called Richmond INSPIRE (Imagining Neighborhood-Shaping Parks and Inclusive Recreation Experiences)—will offer a community-supported vision for parks and recreation, with a concrete action plan to implement the vision in phases over time.

The first community survey can be found here. 

For up to date information, please visit our website - https://www.richmondinspire.com/ .

CROOKED BRANCH TRAIL BRIDGE

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will construct a bridge across Reedy Creek in Crooked Branch Ravine Park at 42^nd Street and develop a trail through Crooked Branch Ravine Park to Crutchfield Street. This connectivity project provides access for pedestrians and cyclists to move from the forthcoming James River Branch Trail, through Crooked Branch Ravine Park, and Forest Hill Park to the James River Park System and is part of the James River Park System Master Plan.

More information about the project can be found here.

LUCKS FIELD

Current News:

Ground Breaking, October 2023. Take a peek at the renderings for Lucks Field. For up to date pop ins, please visit our Facebook page!

Project Purpose: Luck’s Field Community Center is a newly constructed 30,000 sf building nestled in the heart of Richmond’s East End. The purpose of the project is to engage, educate, and elevate the lives of the East End community residents. The community center will also serve as an emergency response building, providing shelter during times of inclement weather or even a central location to administer vaccines during a pandemic. Through rigorous community engagement processes, by means of surveys, neighborhood meetings and presentations, the community center becomes more than a building; it becomes a representation of a neighborhood’s identity.

Project Context:
The neighborhood surrounding Luck’s Field is predominantly residential, surrounded by single family homes, a mid-rise senior apartment complex, and churches. Community surveys found that approximately 38% of those who visit the park arrive by walking, while others arrive by public transit (5%), biking (9%) or driving (49%). The site currently includes a historic baseball court (for which the site is named), basketball courts, fitness equipment, and a playground. Across the street, and included in this project, is a parcel containing Fairmount Pool and additional unprogrammed open green space.

Architecture:
The community center is engaging. Expanses of glass are used at the pedestrian level to captivate the attention of passersby, allowing views into the multipurpose sports court and other areas of the building. Natural light abounds, providing appealing and enlightened spaces for neighbors to play, learn, and engage with each other and their city. Enhancements to the streetscape and the step down of the overall massing is inviting, while reinforcing the neighborhood scale. Meandering paths allow residents to wander the site, visiting playgrounds, gardens, and the renovated historic Luck’s Field which was a major request from the older generation of the neighborhood. The program is educational. Spaces are designed to empower residents; teaching kitchens to learn new recipes and rooftop gardens to cultivate knowledge on homesteading. A multimedia library allows residents a place to go during the day or to catch up on studying. The building elevates the community, with sweeping city skyline views from 3rd level roof terraces and its signature crown, a roof top multipurpose sports court. Additionally, the building will act as an emergency response shelter providing residents with safe spaces to go during inclement weather, or a convenient place to administer and store life-saving vaccines during a pandemic.

Landscape:
Community feedback resoundingly indicated the historic significance of Luck’s Field, and residents strongly preferred the baseball field to remain as green space in its current location. This preference became a core design driver. The baseball field is imagined as a multiuse space for recreation, events, and gatherings. A sidewalk arcs around the outfield on a raised PRCF Luck’s Field Community Center – Conceptual UDC Application - Narrative Page 2 berm with shelters and all-age swings, creating connectivity between the southern end of the park, the community center, and Fairmount Pool. At the southern end of this sidewalk, a plaza with splash pad welcomes those arriving at the park from the south. Additional amenities proposed include two outdoor permeable asphalt basketball courts, outdoor fitness equipment, playgrounds, and a picnic shelter. A parking lot connects two disconnected sections of U Street. Traffic calming measures including a raised speed table and bump-outs are proposed along T Street and North 20th Street to address residents’ concerns about pedestrian safety and to create a stronger pedestrian connection between Luck’s Field and Fairmount Pool. At Fairmount Pool, an expanded pool deck with shade structure is proposed, along with an additional offstreet parking lot. Lastly, a community garden and urban food forest offer additional space for potential educational and health programming opportunities at the new community center.

Construction Program:
The building will stand 3 stories tall at 45 ft. In this urban setting, reducing the footprint of the building by expanding vertically will allow the residents more access to site amenities like fields, gardens and paths, as well as capture sweeping views of the city skyline. The community center seeks to achieve a Net Zero designation using solar panels, using geothermal heat, rainwater harvesting, and other strategies. The building plans to offset its energy use through producing the same amount of energy it uses. Programmatically, and as requested by area residents, the community center will feature an indoor basketball court with a second level mezzanine track wrapping the perimeter. The first level will also include offices for city administration services, security, numerous flex spaces to be used for various purposes, locker rooms and bathrooms, an indoor play area, and a multimedia library. The second level will feature multiple multipurpose rooms and a teaching kitchen. The 3rd level will offer residents a youth and teen center, a safe space to hang out after school, with direct access to a roof terrace and garden. The site will include major upgrades including the connection of U street, allowing off street parking and a pedestrian path directly to the renovated pool deck. The site will also include paths, gardens, sports courts and plazas centered around a renovated historic Luck’s Field.

Project Budget and Funding Sources:
The community center is a result of two major components; a transformative investment in Richmond’s neighborhoods through the American Rescue Plan, and civic engagement sessions with the community by means of surveys and in person meetings to get feedback as to what the residents need. After gathering feedback from Richmond residents, the city has allocated $20M of the original $155M grant for the construction of a new community center in East End, Luck’s Field. $12M will be used for the construction of the building, and $8M will be used for site upgrades, like the baseball field renovation, lighting, and pathways, as well as for other soft costs.

Construction Timeline:
Construction is planned to be 16 months, set to begin in September of 2023 with a goal of completion by December 2024. As outlined by the American Rescue Plan, funds need to be encumbered by 2025.

Questions and Answers

The City's Administration is here to keep you informed throughout the entire Parks and Recreation American Rescue Plan process. We hope these Frequently Asked Questions will help with your queries. 

T.B. SMITH

Current News:

Ground Breaking, November 2023.
Take a peek at the renderings for T.B. Smith. For up to date pop ins, please visit our Facebook page!

Project Purpose and Background:
T.B. Smith Community Center is a newly constructed 30,000 sf building off Ruffin Road in Richmond’s Southside. The purpose of the project is to engage, educate, and elevate the lives of the southside community residents. The community center is also planned to serve as an emergency response building, providing shelter during times of inclement weather or even a central location to administer vaccines during a pandemic. Through rigorous community engagement processes, by means of surveys, neighborhood meetings and presentations, the community center becomes more than a building; it becomes a collaboration amongst designers, residents and the city for a building that truly enhances the lives of its southside residents.

Project Context:
The neighborhood surrounding T.B. Smith is a mix between residential and industrial, surrounded by single family homes to the south, and industrial warehouses to the north and west. A vacant school facility parcel abuts the east and could be potential future expansion for the park. Community surveys found that approximately 29% of those who visit the park arrive by walking, while others arrive by biking (14%) or driving (57%). The site currently includes a community center facility, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor shelter, tennis courts, large open space, and a playground.

Architecture:
The community center is engaging. Residents are greeted by a centrally located outdoor basketball court, sports being a major driver for the community center based on feedback from southside residents. A large entry plaza compliments the playful gables creating a front porch for residents to mingle. The community center nestles a large multipurpose sports field, with a series of meandering breezeways connecting the old and the new. Views of the indoor basketball court and ind00r pool are offered to pedestrians and drivers through large expanses of glass. The program is educational. Spaces are designed to empower residents; teaching kitchens to learn new recipes and long nature trails give up nooks for outdoor teachable moments. Expansive gardens allow community members to learn about local plants and how to grow vegetables. An indoor swimming pool is a place for residents to cool off all year long or take swimming lessons. A multimedia library allows residents a place to go during the day or to catch up on studying. The building elevates the community, with a focus centered on sports and health. Additionally, the building will act as an emergency response shelter providing residents with safe spaces to go during inclement weather, or a convenient place to administer and store life-saving vaccines during a pandemic.

Landscape:
Community feedback resoundingly indicated the need for before and after school care, and residents strongly preferred a youth and teen center with a multipurpose gym, indoor and outdoor basketball, community kitchen, playground, and a multipurpose field. This preference became a core design driver. The multipurpose field anchors the west side of the site in PRCF T.B. Smith Community Center – Conceptual UDC Application - Narrative Page 2 the ideal north/south orientation to allow for optimal space for additional park amenities. The popular basketball courts have been relocated to the front of the site near the Davee Gardens neighborhood entrance, making it a focal point in the programming. The courts will be nestled between the existing and proposed community building, with a covered pedestrian promenade that links the old with the new. Additional amenities include a playground, splash pad, native grass meadows, and open space with extensive tree planting contributing to the park-like setting. A walking trail meanders along the northern edge of the site, linking the parking lot, sidewalks, and emergency access road in a seamless loop along the perimeter of the site. Fitness stations and berms along the trail provide interest and activity. The industrial park abutting the park is screened with a buffer, and an overlook tower sits atop a small hill with an opportunity to engage with the city skyline and sunsets to the west. Together, these elements provide south Richmond with a vibrant community center, addressing a critical need for quality green space in the neighborhood.

Construction Program:
The building will be 2 stories tall at 40 ft at the tallest peak. The site is large, and after mapping out the focal areas, a multipurpose sports field, and a basketball court, the building responds to the activities with a linear layout. The architecture connects the program areas through covered breezeways and paths. Programmatically, and as requested by area residents, the community center will feature an indoor basketball court and an indoor swimming pool. The first level will also include offices for city administration services, security, a teaching kitchen, locker rooms and bathrooms, and a multimedia library. The second level will house the youth and teen center, and a pair of multipurpose rooms. The site will include numerous upgrades including the renovation of the existing out-building to house active adult services, an upgraded multipurpose field and walking trails that will connect residents with nature and provide an improved backdrop to the community center.

Project Budget and Funding Sources:
The community center is a result of two major components; a transformative investment in Richmond’s neighborhoods through the American Rescue Plan, and civic engagement sessions with the community by means of surveys and in person meetings to get feedback as to what the residents need. After gathering feedback from Richmond residents, the city has allocated $20M of the original $155M grant for the construction of a new community center in Southside, T.B. Smith. $12M will be used for the construction of the building, and $8M will be used for site upgrades, like a new multipurpose sports field, expansive nature trails, lighting, and pathways, as well as for other soft costs.

Construction Timeline:
Construction is planned to be 16 months, set to begin in September of 2023 with a goal of completion by December 2024. As outlined by the American Rescue Plan, funds need to be encumbered by 2025.

Questions and Answers

The City's Administration is here to keep you informed throughout the entire Parks and Recreation American Rescue Plan process. We hope these Frequently Asked Questions will help with your queries. 

PRCF held the first community meetings on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Videos from the meetings can be viewed here:

T. B. Smith Community Meeting

TEXAS BEACH BRIDGE

Information on this project will be forthcoming.