Funded Projects
The Hellman Foundation is investing catalytic funding over two phases so far to support park equity in Richmond and the desired outcomes of renovated parks; well-maintained, well-used, well-funded parks; and community leadership. Phase 2 (2026 through 2027) of the RichPEP Collaborative will build on foundations of activation and community engagement laid in Phase 1 and expand into key areas: power-building, articulating goals for systems change, planning and implementing park renovations, and seeking the resources needed for a vibrant, equitable, and effective park system.
APEN
Phase 1: APEN launched a community garden feasibility project and researched potential options, best practices, and land co-governance models. They engaged three generations of APEN members in workshops, site visits, and field trips. The group began to envision community gardens as urban “third spaces” for sharing cultural foodways, medicinal practices, and cross-community power building.
Phase 2: APEN will pilot a test garden over two growing seasons and develop a long-term Garden Development Plan. APEN will develop a Resilience Assets Map to catalog resources such as resilience hubs and cooling centers. APEN will also engage a consultant to educate staff and members about land remediation processes.
City of Richmond
Phase 1: The City of Richmond and TPL partnered on Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and Park, with the City leading on the center and TPL leading on the park. They engaged architects to develop conceptual designs and support a community engagement process to shape the new community center. They worked with Nystrom United Revitalization Effort (NURVE) and the Coronado and Santa Fe Neighborhood Councils to engage the community in developing design concepts.
The City conducted an inventory of city-owned parks and buildings, assessed the condition of all facilities and amenities, and developed condition reports for each. The data will be used to configure an asset management system, which will allow the City to track the condition of city buildings and park amenities and plan for maintenance, repairs, and improvements.
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
The City will conduct a citywide tree inventory, select a new data management platform, prepare and implement a tree management plan, perform deferred maintenance on trees, develop an Urban Forest Management Plan, and update the current Tree Ordinance.
East Bay Pickleball Association
Phase 1: EBPA received funding to conduct pop-up pickleball events, clinics, and equipment giveaways. The project is on hold.
FIERCE Advocates
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.
HAB45
Phase 1: HAB45 promoted PASOS, a 12-week walking and dance club at Nicholl Park, and led evaluation for the program. With Rising Juntos and YES Nature to Neighborhoods, they co-led a collaborative and community-driven assessment of necessary improvements at Nicholl Park with residents. Additionally, they reviewed past assessment data for Nicholl Park and conducted 10 stakeholder interviews as part of Master Plan development.
Phase 2: HAB45 will promote events to activate Nicholl Park and Boorman Park and provide evaluation of activation events. They will partner with Rising Juntos, 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.
Pogo Park
Phase 1: Pogo Park assessed communications strategies for the Iron Triangle neighborhood, to build community understanding of park programs.
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.
Rich City Rides
Phase 1: Rich City Rides launched the Rich City Parks Challenge to encourage community members to visit local parks and share feedback about parks, expectations, and experiences. They also led monthly park clean-ups, engaged community members on Selfcare Sunday bike rides and annual camping trips, and expanded staff knowledge on bike safety and advocacy. They collaborated with Steam the Streets to capture several RichPEP partner organizations’ work on video, support NIAD Art Center to integrate a disability justice lens with park equity, and provide “backbone support” under the collective impact model to support the RichPEP collaborative, especially quarterly convenings and workgroups, in partnership with PlaceWorks.
Phase 2: Rich City Rides will deepen its role as a leader and facilitator for the RichPEP collaborative work and expand ongoing programs to build trust, encourage stewardship, share advocacy opportunities, and demonstrate the power of utilizing parks as community hubs.
Rising Juntos
Phase 1: Rising Juntos launched PASOS, a 12-week walking and dance club at Nicholl Park. With HAB45 and YES Nature to Neighborhoods, they co-led a collaborative and community-driven assessment of necessary improvements at Nicholl Park with residents. Additionally, they reviewed 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 HAB45, 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.
Trust for Public Land
Advisory Group Phase: TPL prepared a funding feasibility study of public finance options for funding parks in Richmond in 2022 and updated it in 2023.
Phase 1: The City of Richmond and TPL partnered on Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and Park, with the City leading on the center and TPL leading on the park. They landscape architects to develop conceptual designs and support a community engagement process to shape the 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: TPL will work with a landscape architect to develop designs for MLK, Jr. Park and prepare for the construction of park renovations.
TPL will partner with Rising Juntos, HAB45, and YES 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. TPL will work with a landscape architect to lead the development of plans for renewing Nicholl Park.
Building on their funding feasibility study from 2023, TPL will develop a parks funding roadmap to public funding mechanisms and policies in Richmond and begin implementing strategies laid out in the roadmap. The goal is to develop a sustainable, equitable, and community-supported funding strategy for parks and recreation. National experts from TPL’s 10-Minute Walk, Conservation Finance, and Government Relations teams will contribute throughout the effort.
Urban Tilth
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. On the Richmond Greenway, Urban Tilth hosted four annual special events, three educational workshops, and 56 volunteer days. They completed construction drawings for the ADA Garden on the Richmond Greenway and are completing a mural project.
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. 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.
YES Nature to Neighborhoods
Phase 1: With Rising Juntos and HAB45, YES 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, the co-leaders reviewed past assessment data for Nicholl Park and conducted 10 stakeholder interviews as part of Master Plan development.
Phase 2: YES will partner with Rising Juntos, HAB45, 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.