The City of Richmond is giving organizers behind a proposed arts park under the Manchester Bridge a one-day opportunity to test the concept in real time.
Scheduled for Saturday April 25 from 12-5pm, the event will serve as a live proof of concept for what supporters have described as a “vibrant arts park,” an open, artist-led space built around rotating mural walls, public programming, and community use. The response to this trial run could determine whether the project moves forward as a permanent installation.
“This isn’t the permanent park,” said Ian Hess, who originated the idea and is one of the organizers. “This is to make sure the permanent park happens.”
The one-day activation will feature approximately 10 invited muralists alongside a series of open walls available to the public, reflecting the broader vision for the space as an accessible, ongoing canvas. Temporary wall structures are being installed for the event, along with a small stage for DJs and music throughout the evening.
The project has been in development for more than three years and has reached a point where this test is critical.
“If this doesn’t push through the permanent project, there’s literally nothing else that can be done,” he said, pointing to existing partnerships, endorsements, and coordination with city agencies already in place.
In the workshop building the walls, photos courtesy of Little Giant Society
The proposal is being developed through Little Giant Society, a nonprofit entity created to help manage and steward the space if it becomes permanent. Architect Katie Cortez, who has been working on the project’s planning and logistics, said the goal is to build something that is both structured and community-driven.
“It’s not just about putting walls up and walking away,” Cortez said. The organization would oversee the space, coordinate with the city, and support programming tied to art, culture, and education. “It’s meant to steward the space,” Hess added. “It could not be more open. Come partake.”
The concept draws from a model more commonly associated with skateparks, where a designated space allows a culture to grow, self-regulate, and sustain itself over time. Organizers say Richmond has long had the artists and interest, but not a consistent, accessible place for that activity to exist.
Beyond the immediate focus on murals, the project also aims to connect different groups that do not typically overlap. Ben White, who has been involved in shaping the project’s broader vision, said there is potential to bring together artists and environmental organizations already working along the James River.
The idea is to create a space that not only supports art, but also introduces new audiences to ongoing stewardship and ecological efforts tied to the riverfront.
Ian Hess, Katie Cortez and Ben White on location, photos by R. Anthony Harris
The location itself is a central part of the proposal. The site sits beneath and around the Manchester Bridge at the intersection of several heavily used pedestrian and cycling routes, including the floodwall, Buttermilk Trail, and nearby connections to the Potterfield Bridge. The constant flow of foot traffic makes it a natural gathering point that is currently underutilized.
“This is literally the intersection of several different trails,” Cortez said, noting that the space already sees regular use from cyclists, runners, and pedestrians.
The project has also gained support through its alignment with the Fall Line Trail, a long-planned regional trail system that will run through Richmond. That connection has helped move conversations forward with the city, framing the arts park as a potential trail-side amenity.
For now, the focus remains on the April 25 event.
Organizers are encouraging the public to attend, both to experience the concept and to demonstrate support for the project’s future. City officials, including Mayor Danny Avula, are planning on attending the event.
After several years of planning, fundraising, and coordination, the outcome of a single day could shape what happens next.
For Hess and others involved, the goal is simple: show what the space can become and see what happens.
Event Info Block
Website: www.littlegiantsociety.org
Event: Saturday, April 25, 12 – 5pm
Under Manchester Bridge, Richmond, VA
Park in the Flood Wall Trail rear parking lot and walk down
Muralists
Catie Lewis (@catielewisart)
Emily Herr (@herrsuite)
Eli McMullen (@elimcmullen)
Erek Jones (@stachesquatchdesign)
George Arturo (@visiblyhidden_)
Jered Fykes (@jerrofyx)
LOBOS (@skwheatstraw)
Nils (@nilsrva)
Steve Lahaye (@stove_irwin)
Tedi Kuma (@tedikuma)
DJs
Dan Knots (@dan.knots)
JON JAR (@jonjarmusic)
Ran (@fanranfilms)
Profound79 (@profound79)
Carpenters
Alé Melgar (@z3nki_ale)
Philip Meyer (@philip_meyer)
James Loving (@jamesonthejames)
Community Partnerships
Fall Line Trail
Bike Walk RVA
Manchester Alliance
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