by bridgette on June 25, 2009
The Friends of Chimborazo Playground have submitted a partnership application to KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization that empowers communities to build playgrounds. We’ve been working closely with the Department of Parks, Recreation & Facilities and the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation throughout the grant process. We’ve made it to Round 2 in the application process! If we’re fortunate enough to become a KaBOOM! partner, we’ll have the opportunity to design and build our own playground with new equipment. The application process is moving quickly. If we are successful in the bid, here are some upcoming dates to remember:
- July 9 - Design Day, 4pm - All children in the community will have the opportunity to design their “Dream Playground.” Kids will get to draw pictures of what their ideal playground will look like. Afterwards, parents and other community members will meet to turn their pictures into reality. Working the KaBOOM! project manager, we’ll work to design a playground that’s accessible and incorporates as many of the features the kids have requested as possible.
- Sept 10 - Build Day - We need 75 volunteers from our community to help build the playground. It’s like an old-fashioned barn raising, and the play equipment goes up in one day.
We need your help! We need as many volunteers on Build Day, Design Day and on the planning committee as possible. If you’re interested, contact Shawn.
by bridgette on April 21, 2009
The Church Hill Association membership voted tonight to fund the Friends of Chimborazo Playground $5,000 to make improvements to the Chimborazo playground and recreational area. Items in the grant request include: two CHAT-built picnic tables; two barbecue stands; a garden shed; a purple martin house; a bat house; and three triangular shade sails. We are grateful to the Church Hill Association for their support!
by bridgette on April 16, 2009
The Dept of Parks, Rec & Facilities today said that all capital improvement projects (such as renovations to Chimborazo Park Playground) have been significantly reduced (not entirely cut) from the mayor’s budget (2009-2013). The Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Facilities said they will be operating on a bare-bones budget that will cover only minor facilities maintenance and repair. Obviously, it’s a tough economic environment and everyone is experiencing major cutbacks as the mayor re-prioritizes the city’s needs.
The good news: Some previously appropriated funds remain. We can use these funds for site demolition, regrading, engineering, and very scaled-back renovation. As a community, we need to meet again and decide what we want. There’s still a lot of room for creativity if we all pull together. But we’ll need your help!
How can I help? Attend the next CHA meeting next Tuesday, April 21 at 7pm, at the Asbury Methodist Church, corner of 29th and Marshall. In February, we asked for a CHA grant of $5,485 for
- new picnic tables built by CHAT
- shade sails
- a garden shed
- BBQ stands
- bird/bat houses
It passed, but due to a technicality, the vote was made null and void and must go up for vote again. Because city funding is tight, we need to rely on fundraising and generous grants like this more than ever. So, please attend! Become a CHA member or renew your membership and make your vote count. It’s an easy way to help improve our neighborhood and get involved.
by bridgette on March 18, 2009
We’re pleased to announce that the Church Hill Association voted last night to fund our request for $5,000 to make several improvements to the park, which include
* picnic tables built by CHAT
* shade sails
* barbeque stands
* bird and bat houses
* garden shed
We are grateful for the CHA’s generous support. The motion was amended such that the funds will remain with CHA rather than with Richmond Parks and Recreation Foundation. CHA will pay the invoices as items are purchased. Also, we will have to go through CAR for approval of the design of the garden shed.
We’ll need lots of volunteers to help erect the shade sails and install the other equipment. Hope you can make it to the community park cleanup day in April.
Thanks to everyone for helping in this effort.
by bridgette on February 5, 2009
Custom Design Controls rewired and installed 11 new lights at the playground. The generous donation included all labor and materials. In addition, Custom Design Controls lowered one of the basketball backboards to its proper height and hung a new net on an empty backboard. Working with the Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities (PRCF), they replaced two damaged poles and installed on-demand lighting near basketball and petanque courts. Not only does this extend playing time on winter evenings, but it has improved safety at the playground — one of our group’s main goals. Many thanks to Custom Design Controls and PCRF for their generous support.
by bridgette on January 8, 2009
BAM Architects has revised the Master Plan for the park based on last meeting’s feedback. This design shows two basketball courts and two tennis courts, but Parks & Rec now recommends just one court each court for these reasons:
One for the cost factor; and two, just three blocks to the north in Ethel Furman Park, there are two of each court there so there is no reason to duplicate what we already have.
by bridgette on January 8, 2009
Here are some interesting ideas from other parks around the world. Most of these incorporate the idea of a “natural playground” into their design. Check out the pictures below, plus a gallery of other garden ideas.
A living willow tree woven into a bower:
Banners, handpainted signs and thoughtful design make a park entrance inviting:
This playground incorporates found and reused objects for imaginary play:
Here’s a really cool way to reuse tires and address terrain changes. Plus, no falls:
Water pumps, channels and tables and sand areas encourage experimentation and creativity:
Kids like to play with sound, too. Pipes, plastic drums, windchimes and other found objects can double as instruments in a “sound scape.”
Lose yourself in a maze:
by bridgette on September 30, 2008
The last focus group meeting with the Department of Parks & Recreation and BAM Architects will take place tonight at 6:30 pm at St. John’s Church Parish Hall. BAM will present proposed schematic designs so far and is seeking feedback from the community. Please come and share your thoughts about the park redesign!
At 6pm, the Friends of Chimborazo Playground invites you to a quick membership meeting. Want to see change happen at the park? We can’t do it without you! Stop by tonight and learn how to become a member (it’s free, fun and you’ll meet great people!). The meeting will take place in the same location (St. John’s Parish Hall).
Hope to see you tonight!
by bridgette on September 10, 2008
Want to learn more about proposed design changes to Chimborazo Playground? Share your ideas, provide feedback and get involved on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at St. John’s Church Parish Hall.
Focus Group - 6:30pm - The City of Richmond Parks and Recreation Department and BAM Architects will hold the third and final focus group meeting concerning the redesign of the playground and recreation area at Chimborazo Park. The focus group is open to the public and it’s your chance to provide feedback on the proposed redesign. Share your thoughts and questions with the architects at this meeting. If you’re unable to attend, but want to share some ideas or concerns, leave a comment here and we will be sure to include them at the focus group.
Membership Meeting - before Focus Group - starts at 6 pm - Become a member of Friends of Chimborazo Playground. It’s free and open to anyone interested in improving the recreation area of Chimborazo Park. We’re looking for basketball players, tennis players, skateboarders, petanque players, gardeners, parents and children who use the playground and anyone else interested in making the park a safer, more beautiful place. Become a part of the exciting changes happening at the park!
by bridgette on August 5, 2008
Friends of Chimborazo Playground and members of the community met informally with the Department of Parks & Recreation and BAM Architects on July 31 to review Chimborazo Playground design revisions. The design features a main vista looking through the park from 29th Street to 31st. Ten community garden plots would line the northern alley; a sidewalk would line the southern perimeter of the park. The tall fences currently surrounding the park would be replaced with berms, lower walls and other landscape features to make the area less “penal looking.”
The group also began discussions about how the project could be broken into phases and developing a major fundraising plan.
