RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200 - Richmond, Virginia 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov
NEWS ADVISORY - CAMERA OPPORTUNITY- NEWS CONFERENCE
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Photos:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150245136990841.316552.52585440840
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157627112410147/
Raw video
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150317600791131
Photos and Video
75 Citizen Soldiers carry out massive clearing of New Cannon Creek Greenway, worth $120,000: Maj. General Daniel E. Long and Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson to hold Special Walking Tour tomorrow
Virginia Army National Guard work on Phase I of new modern biking, hiking, walking trails and park facilities; Protective helmets to be provided onsite
WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A; July 20, 2011) -- A special walking news tour will be held tomorrow to explain the massive work currently being undertaken in Richmond’s Cannon Creek Greenway. The work being performed is valued at $120,000 and is being provided to Richmond citizens at no charge by the Virginia Army National Guard.
This important “walk and talk” event will include:
• Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., Adjutant General of the Virginia Army National Guard, Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force
• The Honorable Ellen F. Robertson, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, Gateway 6th District
• Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, Director, Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
• Dr. Charles Price, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club
This immense project is being accomplished by the Virginia Army National Guard - 180th Horizontal Construction Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, with the assistance of the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the Richmond Department of Public Works.
From July 17- July 27, 2011, approximately 75 Citizen Soldier Engineers from the Powhatan-based Virginia Army National Guard - 180th Horizontal Construction Company, 276th Engineer Battalion are clearing sizable undergrowth and grading pedestrian and biking trail along Cannon Creek, which runs parallel to the Richmond Henrico Turnpike, as a part of the Cannon Creek Greenway Project. The Petersburg-based Virginia Army National Guard - Forward Support Company of the 276th Engineer Battalion is providing logistical support for the units on site and keeping them fed and fueled.
The use of heavy and light engineer equipment on the site helps provide “real world” training in preparing Soldiers for the Defense Support to Civilian Authorities mission in responding in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes, floods, tornados and ice/snow events.
WHEN NEWS CONFERENCE
Thursday, 21 July 2011
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
WHERE In Richmond’s Cannon Creek Greenway
Near the (Former) Virginia Army National Guard Armory
500 Dove Street (Intersection of Dove Street and Richmond-Henrico Turnpike)
WHO Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., Adjutant General of the Virginia Army National Guard, Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force
The Honorable Ellen F. Robertson, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council,
Gateway 6th District
Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, Director
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Capt. Dave Baber, Commander of the Virginia Army National Guard –
180th Horizontal Construction Company
75 Citizen Soldier Engineers of the Virginia Army National Guard, 180th Horizontal Construction Company, 276th Engineer Battalion
Virginia Army National Guard - Forward Support Company of the 276th Engineer Battalion
Dr. Charles Price, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club
Mr. Champe Bumley, Chairman, Mayor of Richmond Pedestrian,
Bicycling and Trails Planning Commission
CONTACT For more information, please contact:
Steve Skinner, Richmond City Council Public Affairs Manager, at 804.9237.1386 (mob) or steven.skinner@richmondgov.com (email)
Mr. Cotton Puryear, Communications Director, Virginia Department of Military Affairs, at 804.539.1451 (mob); or cotton.puryear@us.army.mil (email)
Dr. Charles Price, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, at 804. 229.0075 (mob) or fewmit@comcast.net (email)
The Honorable Ellen F. Robertson, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council,
Gateway 6th District, at 804.314.7658 (mob) 804.646.7964 (home) or ellen.robertson@richmondgov.com (email)
BACKGROUND - Richmond Cannon Creek Greenway project __________________________
This work represents a continuation of Phase I of the Cannon Creek Greenway Project, and is a continuation of ongoing community reclamation and improvement of the 1.9 mile area that comprises the Cannon Creek Greenway, which includes a heavily-wooded ravine located adjacent to a section of the north-south Richmond-Henrico Turnpike between Valley Road on the south and Craigie Avenue, located in the Northside 3 District and Gateway 6th District of Richmond. When all phases are completed, there will be a 1.9 mile, 10 foot wide, asphalt-surfaced nature trail.
Other projects leading up to this work have included two community cleanups, held in 2009 and 2010 to remove unwanted trash and debris, and a clearing of area in 2011 by Virginia Army National Guard, 180th Horizontal Construction Company, 276th Engineer Battalion.
The clearing and cleanups are expected to prepare the Greenway for the construction of a bike/pedestrian trail and family-oriented park facilities. It is envisioned that this project will help to increase the social, economic, and physical revitalization of the Northside and Gateway Districts of Richmond.
The work of the Virginia Army National Guard, 180th Horizontal Construction Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, is critical to the success of this community project.
The Cannon Creek Greenway Project is a community improvement initiative supported by: Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson, Richmond City Council - Gateway 6th District, Councilman Chris A. Hilbert, Richmond City Council - Northside 3rd District, Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, Richmond Department of Public Works) Southern Barton Heights Community Association, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Richmond Public Schools, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Green Park Civic Association, Highland View Civic Association, Chestnut Hill Action Team, Battery Park Civic Association and Virginia Tech School of Architecture and Design - Landscape Architecture Program.
Planning for the features of the Greenway began in 2008 and have included a series of community meetings and workshops involving neighborhood civic associations, elected Councilmembers, residents of the Highland Park and Barton Heights communities, Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation, Richmond Department of Community Development, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA), and several environmental and recreation organizations.
Beginning in 2009, an annual Richmond Cannon Creek Greenway Community Cleanup has been held to remove unwanted trash and debris from the Richmond Cannon Creek Greenway, which is a 1.4 mile area that includes the heavily-wooded ravine located adjacent to a section of the north-south Richmond-Henrico Turnpike between Valley Road on the south and Craigie Avenue on the north in Northside Richmond. The cleanups cleanup each year (held March 20, 2010 and January 24, 2010) have prepared the area for beginning the transformation of the site into a bike/pedestrian trail and family-oriented park facilities. It is envisioned that this project will help in increasing the social, economic, and physical revitalization of Northside Richmond. In both years, more than 200 volunteers removed tons of trash from the area that, over the years, has been used as an illegal dump site.
A stakeholders’ Planning “Charrette” was conducted in October, 2009 to decide on the features of the reclaimed Cannon Creek Greenway by faculty and students of the Virginia Tech Landscape Architectural Program. The Richmond city government administration has also completed an environmental study of the Greenway site and is currently conducting an engineering study of the area and a study of the proposed
alternative routes of the Greenway’s bike and pedestrian trail are being completed by City of Richmond engineering consultant contractors.
On December 1, 2009, the City of Richmond submitted an “Innovative Readiness Training Request for Military Assistance” through the Virginia Governor’s Office and the Virginia Adjutant General to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Reserve Affairs. As a training function of the Guard Unit, the clearing of undergrowth and construction of the Cannon Creek Greenway’s bike/pedestrian trail and park features by the Virginia Army National Guard, 180th Horizontal Construction Company, 276th Engineer Battalion.
Plans for the Richmond Cannon Creek Greenway’s include serving as a scenic park and recreational area for the 300 unit, mixed income housing revitalization initiative of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) that will be built nearby. Construction of the RRHA initiative are planned for the near future.
The Cannon Creek Greenway Project may also be linked to the United States of America East Coast Greenway, which is being built in sections from Main to Florida, and to the Virginia Capital Trail, which would link Richmond to Williamsburg and Jamestown.
The sidewalk and street intersections of the Greenway’s bicycle and pedestrian trial will connect the Northside’s business and commercial corridor along E. Brookland Park Boulevard residential neighborhoods, churches, schools, and community centers for ease of access by bicycling or walking. It will also provide an alternative transportation route for bicycle commuting from the residential neighborhoods of Highland Park and Barton Height to the City’s downtown. In addition to its use for family-oriented, recreational activities, the Greenway may also serve as an outdoor environmental laboratory for the science classes of nearby schools.
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Steven R. Skinner, APR
Council Public Information Manager
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL CHIEF OF STAFF
Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804.646.6052 (office)
804.335.4054 (mobile)
804.937.1386 (home/mobile)
804.646.5468 (fax)
steven.skinner@richmondgov.com (email)
www.council.richmondva.gov(website)
____________________________________________
MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council
is to represent citizens in creating and amending
local laws, providing government policy and
oversight, and approving the city budget.
VISION Richmond City Council is committed to
creating a vibrant community that is a great place
to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.
