Funded Projects

Humphrey Playlot

Phase 1: FIERCE encouraged activation of Humphrey Playlot by
organizing events for and with neighbors. FIERCE worked with neighbors to
advocate for park improvements, including a visioning process for improvements.

Phase 2: FIERCE will launch the Voices for Parks Leadership
Academy (VPLA) to equip community members with the tools, skills, and political
literacy needed to advocate effectively for equitable, safe, and joyful access
to parks and public spaces and to effectively serve on local park boards and
commissions.

Lucas Park

Phase 1: Urban Tilth successfully kicked off a pilot program at Lucas Park, hosting free activities, especially after school and on weekends, to bring community connection to the park.

Phase 2: Urban Tilth will offer weekly activities at Lucas Park as well as two larger family-friendly events. Urban Tilth will initiate development of a community-informed Master Plan for Lucas Park.

MLK, Jr. Community Center and Park

Phase 1: The City of Richmond and TPL partnered on MLK Center and Park, with the City leading on the center and TPL leading on the park. They engaged architects and landscape architects to develop conceptual designs and support a community engagement process to shape the new community center and upgraded park. They worked with Nystrom United Revitalization Effort (NURVE) and the Coronado and Santa Fe Neighborhood Councils to engage the community in developing design concepts.

Phase 2: The City will hire an architecture team to take the conceptual design for the MLK, Jr. Community Center and create a schematic design and construction documents for the rebuilding of the Community Center. TPL will also work with a landscape architect to develop designs for MLK, Jr. Park and prepare for the construction of park renovations.

Nicholl Park

Phase 1: Rising Juntos launched PASOS, a 12-week walking and dance club at Nicholl Park, supported by Healthy & Active Before 5 (HAB45). Together with YES Nature to Neighborhoods, these partners co-led a collaborative and community-driven assessment of necessary improvements at Nicholl Park with residents. YES’s Youth Engagement Team (YET) led activities and volunteer stewardship days in Nicholl Park and maintained the community pollinator garden. Alumni from YES’s Adult Leadership Pathway (ALP) conducted listening sessions, gathering community input on Nicholl Park and administering a survey. Additionally, HAB45 coordinated with Rising Juntos and YES to review past assessment data for Nicholl Park and conducted 10 stakeholder interviews as part of Master Plan development.

Phase 2: Rising Juntos will lead events to activate Nicholl Park and Boorman Park with HAB45. They will partner with YES and TPL to develop a Nicholl Park Master plan, cultivate resident leadership, convene Town Hall events, and build community power to advocate for public policies and investments for an equitable park system. YES’s YET will continue to lead activities in Nicholl Park and support two Town Hall events that will be used to develop the Nicholl Park Master Plan. TPL will work with a landscape architect to lead the development of plans for renewing Nicholl Park.

The Richmond Greenway

Phase 1: Pogo Park assessed communications strategies for the Iron Triangle neighborhood, to build community understanding of park programs. Urban Tilth hosted four annual special events, three educational workshops, and 56 volunteer days on the Richmond Greenway. They completed construction drawings for the ADA Garden on the Richmond Greenway and are completing a mural project.

Phase 2: Pogo Park will launch Harbour-8 Park and conduct activation, community outreach, and maintenance activities. They will provide a full calendar of community programs and seasonal events and will provide free venue space at Harbour Hall for RichPEP partner organizations. Urban Tilth will offer weekly activities along the Richmond Greenway as well as two larger family-friendly events. Urban Tilth will fundraise for and manage design and construction processes to continue implementation of the Greenway Master Plan.