Looking for something to do this summer? The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) is sure to have an event or program to kick start your summer along with great, free activities for everyone in your family!

Parks and Recreation will be introducing Jazz at the Fountain at Fountain Lake in Byrd Park as a new event for 2023. On Sunday, June 4, Jazz at the Fountain will feature Richmond native Chan Hall beginning at 4 p.m. Visitors are invited to bring out their lawn chairs to enjoy the afternoon by the lake. Subsequent performances will take place on July 2, August 6, and September 3.

Starting the Festival of Arts season, PRCF in partnership with the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement, will host the National Immigrant Heritage Month Festival on Saturday, June 10 beginning at 11 a.m. at Dogwood Dell. This event will feature performances from the Panama Traditional Dance Group, Salsa Rueda de Casino representing Cuba, and a traditional performance from Afghanistan with food from Central America, Ukraine, and Argentina.

The department will host the 2^nd Annual Jubilation in June, with the kickoff beginning at the 66^th annual Festival of Arts. Desiree Roots and Friends will be performing at Dogwood Dell, 600 S. Arthur Ashe Blvd, on Friday, June 16 at 8 p.m. On Saturday, June 17, the Dell will host the R& B cover band Legacy Band beginning at 8 p.m. On Sunday June 19, Jubilation in June will culminate with a festival co-sponsored by Radio One Richmond at Intermediate Terminal (3101 Wharf Street) beginning at 3:30 p.m. This festival will feature performances from the Virginia Union University choir, national recording group WanMor, and DJs from Power 92.1 and Kiss Richmond. The festival will end with a fireworks show beginning at 9:15 p.m.

The full schedule for the 66^th Festival of Arts can be found on the Parks and Recreation website.

The department is also hosting summer camps that will begin on Tuesday, June 20. There are still slots available for the Summer Blast Day Camp, Pine Camp Summer Spotlight, Summer Dance Intensive, Theatre Fundamentals camp for teens, Page to Stage Theater Camp, and Nature Film Camp.  More information can be found on our registration site parksandrecreation.richmondgov.com under the “Spring& Summer Camps” tab.

For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit our website.

Road closures at Byrd Park to begin this weekend
The City of Richmond introduces a new event beginning June 4

Richmond, VA – Using the Open Streets concept as seen in other cities around the nation, the City of Richmond is reducing automobile traffic in Byrd Park on weekends beginning Saturday, May 13, 2023. The gate closures will open the space to be used for a range of activities for visitors of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Beginning at 7 a.m., Saturday, May 13, the following road closures will be implemented in Byrd Park:

1. Entrance to the park at S. Arthur Ashe Jr. Blvd. and Grant Street
2. S. Robinson Street at Boat Lake Drive
3. Lakeview Avenue at S. Robinson Street
4. Strollers Lane at Grant Street
5. Westover Road at Boat Lake Drive
6. Trafford Road at Westover Road

Parking is available on S. Arthur Ashe, Jr. Blvd, Grant Street at Blanton Avenue, S. Sheppard Street, or S. Davis Avenue.

These closures will be in effect through 7 a.m. on Monday, September 18, 2023.

To further make use of the space and bring the community together, the City will be hosting Jazz at the Fountain at Fountain Lake. Beginning on Sunday, June 4th, Jazz at the Fountain will feature Richmond native Chan Hall beginning at 4 p.m. The July 2nd performance will feature the quartet Michael Hawkins and the Brotherhood, which features Mr. Hawkins on bass, James “Saxsmo” Gates on Alto Saxophone, Dr. Weldon Hill on piano, and Billy Williams Jr. on drums. Information for the August 6th and September 3rd performers will be posted on the Parks and Recreation website and social media channels.

For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit our website.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF), in partnership with 8 News and Summit Media, will host RVA Illuminates at Kanawha Plaza, 801 E. Canal Street, on Friday, December 2, 2022 beginning at 4 p.m.

RVA Illuminates will feature performances from the Richmond Police Department Band, DJ Lonnie B, and Sam Reed and Friends. Kelli Lemon will emcee for the evening. Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders will flip the switch at 6 p.m., lighting up the downtown skyline and announcing the arrival of the holiday season. At 7:15 p.m., the holiday movie “Elf”, presented by Venture Richmond, will be shown.

“Each year we continue to build in new traditions with the old. Partnering with Venture Richmond to show “Elf” is a great new addition,” says Chris Frelke, Director of PRCF.

In addition to the event at Kanawha Plaza, Shockoe Illuminates will take place at the 17^th Street Market, 100 N. 17^th Street, on the same day. From 5 - 8 p.m., patrons will be able to begin their holiday shopping, enjoy holiday carolers, and partake in the skyline lighting.

Also adding to the holiday tradition, PRCF is asking city businesses and residents to light up their own storefronts and homes on December 2 at 6 p.m., adding to the illumination of the entire city.

For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit our website at www.rva.gov/parks-recreation.

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City of Richmond Pilots Community Composting Program

Initiative seeks to reduce food waste from local landfills

The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PCRF) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to receive a $90,000 grant to pilot a community composting program. The Richmond Compost Initiative is currently funded through early Fall 2023. The initiative seeks to divert food waste from the landfill by providing options for composting at convenient, citywide drop-off locations and then cycle that organic waste into high quality compost for community use.

Funds will be spent on the planning, design, and construction of a medium scale compost processing site, materials for neighborhood drop stations, and a contract with a dedicated site manager. PRCF and the Department of Public Works are providing support for the pilot in the form of a site, personnel, and equipment. RealRoots Food Systems LLC has been contracted to manage the processing of the food scraps into a high quality finished compost.

Engaging the community is a focal goal of this pilot program. In total, there will be approximately 20 neighborhood drop-off stations across the City of Richmond, housed by community gardens, public libraries, and other community organizations. Outreach will focus on both existing composters and people new to composting. For those who are already composting, this is an opportunity to contribute to a collective effort that will produce compost both at a larger scale and at more rapid rate than individual efforts. For those less familiar with composting, this initiative aims to introduce the concept of cycling organic waste while providing an accessible opportunity to begin diverting waste from the landfill. The combined results will yield compost that will be provided to community gardens and public greenspaces.

A team from Public Works will service the collection bins weekly, bringing the organic matter to a central site. There, members of Park and Recreation’s Workforce Development Program will transform it into high quality, usable compost for redistribution. The Richmond Compost Initiative is an important step in progressing towards the city’s sustainability goals as outlined in the RVAGreen 2050 plan, slated for adoption by city council later this year.

For more information about the Richmond Compost Initiative or the department’s Community Garden program, visit https://www.rva.gov/index.php/parks-recreation/community-gardens. For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Richmond, VA – During a recent inspection of park-maintained bridges, the pedestrian bridge that leads to Texas Beach was found to be structurally unsafe for public use. This bridge will be closed effective immediately.

Visitors to the area will be able to access the James River shore by taking the North Bank Trail east towards downtown until further notice.

Parks and Recreation staff will be available during the holiday weekend to assist visitors and ensure their safety as they access all areas of the James River Park System.

For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.