Anyone who has spent time at Browns Island or Bell Isle notices the Richmond-Petersburg Railway line, which was destroyed during the Civil War, with the crumbling stone pier still jutting out of the whitewater rapids of downtown Richmond.
Anyone who has spent time at Browns Island or Bell Isle notices the Richmond-Petersburg Railway line, which was destroyed during the Civil War, with the crumbling stone pier still jutting out of the whitewater rapids of downtown Richmond.
Bridge Park Richmond is a non-profit organization developing plans to incorporate the piers into a unique park. Working with the Martin Agency, the team has been actively working since the summer of 2012 to make this park a reality.
Using the piers as the foundation, the park will provide a walkway over the scenic rapids of the James River, and connect Downtown Richmond with Manchester south of the river. Preliminary plans for the park include a pedestrian walkway and bike path, as well as space for community events, concerts and picnics.
Ted Elmore, President of Bridge Park Richmond, became involved with the project last year. Before joining the group Elmore worked as a lawyer, but he has put his career on hold to focus on the project. “Im the President, but I am also a volunteer. I’m doing this because I think it’s something thats big and important for Richmond,” said Elmore.
The park was inspired by the High Line park in New York City. A One mile linear park suspended over lower Manhattan, the park was built on an abandoned CSX railway track. The project was wildly successful, and has inspired similar parks all over the world.
To make the park unique to Richmond, the organization is keeping members of the community in the loop when it comes to finalizing design plans. Local historians, outdoor enthusiasts and urban planners have all had a part in discussing options for the bridge and the amenities it should include. “Its really made this into a community project. it’s a park for the community but we really want it to be a park by the community,” said Elmore.
Originally, the Huguenot Bridge in Henrico county was considered for the location of the park. The late president of the Martin Agency, Mike Hughes, had started a foundation to save the bridge from being torn down.
In the end, the demolition was too far along to convert the bridge into a park. But according to Elmore, the location change was for the best.
“The location really engages a lot more members of the community. It is more lively and beautiful stretch of the river, and really kind of focuses more on downtown which is much more preferable,” said Elmore.
The long-term goal for the park is to create more attractions to help bring creative minds and entrepreneurs to the city. “What we’re really after is continuing to build on the creative momentum that already exists here,” Said Elmore.
“The next generation of creative leaders in the world, are after a little but different experience in terms of living and urban community.”
While it will still be some time before the project gets underway, feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Once funds have been raised and the final design selected construction on the park will be slotted to take place over a 12-18 month period.
