2005 Monroe Park Advisory Council Accomplishments

  • Installed the City’s first FREE WI-FI (wireless internet access) in a city park

  • Obtained landscape design assistance from Virginia Tech (Professor Wendy Jacobson’s 3rd Year Design Studio)

    •    - Met with students 9/9-9/11/2005 for fact-finding
       - Preliminary    - Review of plans 10/21/2005
       - Final Presentation and delivery of plans at City Hall 12/7/2005

  • MPAC met 1/4/2006 and gleaned consensus about the various proposal elements and which ones were viable options for inclusion in the plan

  • Obtained and proceeded with recommendations regarding tree work from City Arborist, Peter Girardi

  • Irrigation system installed by Virginia Commonwealth University; waiting for City water connection

  • Obtained consensus and sign-off on perimeter parking plan which was instituted by the City

  • Installed new benches and trashcans in the park

  • Unveiled Historic Marker on April 28, 2005 at a celebration attended by citizens, city officials, and VCU's administration, including Dr Trani Installed bollards at pedestrian park entrances

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  • Established a sector “office” for RPD and VCU Police

  • Installed banners defining Monroe Park as a City of Richmond park facility and denoting the WI-FI zone

  • Encouraged local organizations to hold events in Monroe Park in partnership with the Friends of Monroe Park (Fan District Association, Grace and Holy Trinity Church, Fan Women’s Club)

  • Encouraged the Friends of Monroe Park in their development and efforts, including park clean-ups, plantings, weedings, waterings

  • Rev. John Raines of Hope Ministries has coordinated efforts among some of the homeless feeding programs to locate alternative feeding location that provides

    •    - Commercial kitchen facilities
       - Indoors with a climate controlled environment, free from rain and cold
       - Tables and chairs to feed the needy with dignity
       Note: Some organizations refuse to alter their process, but many are cooperating

  • VCU bike racks (surplus) from Monroe Park were transferred to the City Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities for Monroe Park, James River Park, and Oregon Hill

    • Made brickwork repairs to WW II Memorial and Checkers House

  • Re-instituted the parks “banning” program for habitual offenders

  • Formalized an agreement between the Friends of Monroe Park and the Monroe Park Advisory Council about the funds in the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation account

  • Obtained landscape design expertise for Friends of Monroe Park for Spring plantings around the fountain from Karen Kelly of Shipp & Wilson Landscaping

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