Several Rec Centers Open Today

The department has opened the following recreation centers for today, Oct. 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., to provide activities while Richmond Public Schools are closed. All department centers and facilities will resume regular hours of operation tomorrow, Oct. 31.  

Ann Hardy Plaza Community Center

3300 First Ave.

804-646-4824

Battery Park Community Center

2803 Dupont Circle

804-646-0944

Blackwell Community Center

300 E. 15^th St.

804-646-8630

Creighton Court Community Center

2101 Creighton Rd.

804-646-4511

Hickory Hill Community Center

3000 E. Belt Boulevard

804-646-7934

Hotchkiss Community Center

701 E. Brookland Park Boulevard

804-646-4466

Humphrey Calder  Community Center

414 N. Thompson St.

804-646-1780        

Pine Camp Arts & Community Center

4901 Old Brook Road

804-646-3672

Powhatan Community Center

5051 Northampton St.

804-646-0973

Randolph Community Center

1415 Grayland Ave.

804-646-1080

                  

TB Smith Community Center

2015 Ruffin Rd.

804-646-8490

Westover Community Center

1301 Jahnke Rd.

804-646-8995

                           

Whitcomb Court Community Center

2302 Carmine St.

804-646-2988

In addition, Swansboro Pool, 3160 Midlothian Turnpike (804-646-8088), also will be open today from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Department offering fun and safe Halloween activities

The department is offering city children the following fun and safe activities to celebrate Halloween: 

Oct. 26, 6:30 – 9 p.m. – The Hickory Hill Harvest Carnival, Hickory Hill Community Center, 3000 Belt Boulevard, 646-7934

            Children 12 and younger and their parents are invited to join the fun with music, games, candy, food, prizes and a His and Her Best Costume Contest. It’s all free at Hickory Hill!

Oct. 31, 3:30 – 6 p.m. – Halloween Movie, Humphrey Calder Community Center, 414 N. Thompson Street, 646-1780.

            Children ages 8 to 16 can come and watch the PG-rated Halloween movie and receive a candy treat. Free. 

Oct. 31, 5 – 8 p.m. – The Ghouls’ & Gals’ Dance & Halloween Movie, T.B. Smith Community Center, 2015 Ruffin Road, 646-8490

            It’s only $1 for children ages 3 to 12 to attend this fun costume party that includes dancing, treats, arts and crafts, and contests for the most creative, cutest and scariest costumes! Children ages 6 to 12 will scream for the Halloween PG-rated movie from 6 to 8 p.m.

Oct. 31, 6 – 8 p.m. – Halloween Carnival, Ann Hardy Plaza Community Center, 3300 First Avenue, 646-4824

            Come and enjoy the Halloween party for kids ages 2 to 12 with Halloween games, face painting, costume contests and prizes! Free.

Oct. 31, 6 – 8 p.m. – Harvest Fest, Pine Camp Arts & Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road, 646-3672

            Youth ages 2 to 14 are invited to celebrate the Harvest season with crafts, games and more! Wear your costume! It’s free.

Oct. 31, 6 – 8 p.m. – Boo House, Randolph Community Center, 1415 Grayland Avenue, 646-1080

            Children ages 6 to 14 are invited to come in costume to visit the Boo House and enjoy a PG-rated Halloween movie. Free.

Oct. 31, 6 – 9 p.m. – Treat Bag Give Away, Battery Park Community Center, 2803 Dupont Circle, 646-0944

            Children ages 6 to 12 are invited to come by the center for a treat!

Oct. 31, 6:30 – 8 p.m. – The Great Pumpkin Hunt, Westover Community Center, 1301 Jahnke Road, 646-8995

            Children ages 6 to 10 years old are invited to participate in all things pumpkin, including a flashlight pumpkin hunt, pumpkin carving, a pumpkin candy walk, a pumpkin moon bounce, pumpkin games and more! Wear a costume and bring a flashlight. It’s all free!

  

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Don’t Miss “Scream Queens: The Musical”

PRCF and the Friends of Dogwood Dell join to bring you six performances of their production of “Scream Queens: The Musical” Oct. 26 through Nov. 4 at the department’s Pine Camp Theater.

     “Scream Queens” takes you into the world of B-rated horror films and the divas that populate them. The setting is a hotel ballroom outside of Cleveland, OH where GlamaGore ScreamiCon, the annual convention for fans, collectors and celebrities of direct-to-video B-movie horror films, is taking place. The drama ensues as six of the genre’s most popular actresses attempt to catch the attention of a famous director rumored to be in attendance.

     This fun musical production is a fundraiser for Dogwood Dell. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. on Oct. 26, Oct. 27, Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.  Pine Camp is located at 4901 Old Brook Road.

     Tickets are $20, or $10 for students and adults, age 60 and older, and can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, call 646-1031 or visit “Scream Queens RVA” on Facebook.

Department to Hold Free Youth Tennis Clinic

The department hold a free tennis clinic for kids, ages 6 to 18, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, at the Byrd Park Tennis Complex on South Boulevard. 

     The clinic will introduce youth to the fundamentals of tennis using fun, innovative instructions. It is free of charge; however participants are asked to call 646-1208 or visit one of the department’s community centers to sign up for this clinic. Community center locations can be found at www.RichmondGov.com/parks or by calling 646-5733.  

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Belle Isle Parking Lot Public Notification

Construction on Richmond’s new street that will connect Second Street to Tredegar Street on the north side of the James River downtown will have a minimal effect on visitors to the James River Park’s Belle Isle who park in the Tredegar Street lot.                                                

     The first or eastern entrance to the lot on Tredegar Street will be closed effective Tuesday, October 16, due to construction on the new connector street; however, the second or western entrance to the lot, as well as the entire lot itself, will remain open throughout the entire construction period.

Youth Invited to Register for Tennis Tournament

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities invites boys and girls, ages six to eighteen, to register to participate in a tennis tournament, October 23 – 26 at the department’s Byrd Park Tennis Complex.

      Tournament matches will take place between 6 and 7:30 p.m., and the QuickStart format will be used for tournament players 6 years old to 8 years old. QuickStart Tennis uses a smaller court size and racquet, larger tennis balls and a lower net so that young children can learn to play and enjoy the game quickly.

     Tournament registration will take place at the department’s community centers or at the Blanton House, located at 700 Blanton Ave., and must be completed and submitted by Oct. 18. A birth certificate or school record will be required at registration as proof of age. The registration fee is only $10 per player and only money orders made payable to the City of Richmond will be accepted. In addition, a parental waiver form and the registration form must be completed to participate in the tournament.

     “We are especially interested in getting more young people involved in tennis,” said Norman C. Merrifield, department director. “Tennis is a life-time sport with health benefits. If you develop the sport as a young person, it can keep you active and bring you years of enjoyment throughout your life.”

      For more information on the tournament, call Victor Rizzi at (804) 646-1208. 

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Auditions for holiday operetta announced

The department will hold auditions for its 51^st annual production of the holiday operetta “Amahl and the Night Visitors” on Wednesday, October 3, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road. No appointment is necessary. 

     Director George Macklin, Jr. and Musical Director Diana Covington Greer seek a pre- or early-teenage boy soprano for the role of Amahl, and singers of all vocal ranges are invited to audition for the shepherds’ chorus.

      Auditionees are asked to prepare a song that best showcases their vocal abilities. An accompanist will be provided.

     Rehearsals will begin immediately after casting, and the performance will take place on December 9. No performers are paid. 

     For more information call (804) 646-1031.

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