Thursday, November 17, 2016

Youth Tackle Football Championship Set



The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host its tackle and flag football championship games on Saturday, November 19 beginning at 9 a.m. at City Stadium, 3201 Maplewood Avenue. 

Battery Park vs. Westover Midgets
October 22, 2016
“These players have played a great season and I am looking forward to seeing them play their last game of the season. I hope the entire community comes out to support all of the teams,” said Deborah Morton, interim director of the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.  “Our coaches, both site staff and volunteers, have taken the time all season to ensure that these players understand the basics of the game and how to work together as a team.”

9 a.m.
Battery Park vs. Bellemeade (Flag)
10 a.m.
Creighton/Whitcomb vs. Southside (Junior)
11:30 a.m.
Westover vs. Reid (Midget)
1 p.m.
Battery Park vs. Hotchkiss (Pee Wee)
2:30 p.m.
Southside vs. Reid (JV Pee Wee)

The Southside Ducks will be defending their championship title from 2015 in the Junior division. The Battery Park Vikings are the defending champions from 2015 in the Flag and Pee Wee divisions.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

City to Hold Free Veterans Day Program


The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host a Veterans Day commemoration program featuring local historian Kitty Snow and a performance on the Carillon Bells by carillonneur Lawrence Robinson on Friday, November 11 beginning at 2 p.m. This event will be held at the World War I Memorial Carillon located in Byrd Park 1300 Blanton Avenue.

Ms. Snow will be presenting excerpts from her book “From Richmond to France…Images of Our Soldiers and Our City in World War I.”

This event is free and open to the public. For more information regarding the performances, please call (804) 646-1031.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Spotlight Gallery to Host “Arte!” During Hispanic Heritage Month



The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host “Arte! in celebration of Hispanic Heritage month at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road. The exhibit will open on Friday, September 16 with a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until Friday, October 21.
Fabian Ramirez installing his new sculpture

Arte!” which means “art”, will include pieces from contemporary artists Josue Fred, Helene Ruiz, and Juan Carlos Suazo. Pieces to be displayed will include abstract paintings, sculptures, masks, mixed media, and more.

Spotlight Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. This exhibit is free and open to the public. For details on this exhibit or to schedule a tour please call Shaunn Casselle, curator at 646-6722

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Spotlight Gallery to Host “Through the Eyes of a Foster Child”



The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities in collaboration with Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) will host an exhibit at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road. The Spotlight Gallery exhibit titled “Through the Eyes of a Foster Child” will open on August 26 with a reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Spotlight Gallery exhibit will be on display until September 9 when it will close with a poetry reading inspired by the exhibit.

The art exhibited will represent works by children who are or have been part of the CCC Foster Care services. “The exhibited works will express the themes of family, love, friends, freedom and hope through a variety of mediums,” says Bebe Tran, coordinator of the project and CCC Foster Parent Specialist. “Our youth budding youth artists were able to choose from creative writing, painting, drawing, sculpture, 3-D art, or photography to produce their works of art.”
"Family" by Muzehe

Spotlight Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. For more information please contact Shaunn Casselle at (804) 646-6722.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Youth Summer League Basketball Championship Games to be Held at VCU Siegel Center and Pine Camp



The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will hold its 10th Annual CarMax Summer Basketball League championship games on Tuesday, July 26 at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road and Wednesday, July 27, at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 West Broad Street.

The league provides hundred of city children, ages 10 to 17, the opportunity to play organized basketball throughout the summer. The league received a $100,000 grant this year from the CarMax Foundation.

The championship games at Pine Camp and the Siegel Center will be free to the public and events will tip off at 6 p.m. U-14 and U-17 division games will be played on Tuesday at Pine Camp. U-10 and U-12 will be played at the Siegel Center on Wednesday with a special alumni game to be played at 7:45 p.m.

Since 2007, the CarMax Foundation has given nearly one million dollars to restore and expand the department’s basketball courts at Pine Camp, renovate a building on the site for use as a concession facility, and expand league play to include more youth and a wheelchair league.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Bryan Park to Remain Closed Through July 8



The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will continue to keep Bryan Park closed to all visitors through Friday, July 8. Cleanup from the major thunderstorms that hit the Richmond region two weeks ago will continue. Heavy equipment will be used throughout the park, on roads, and the parking lots to continue cleaning up remaining tree debris. “We ask, for everyone’s safety, that you do not visit Bryan Park while cleanup is occurring or remove the signage stating that the park is closed,” said Norman C. Merrifield, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “We invite everyone to visit one of our other many parks during the week,” Merrifield continued.

 For further information, please check the department’s Facebook page at Richmond VA Parks and Recreation.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Annual Commemoration of Memorial Day with Free Music in the Park



The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host its annual Memorial Day Concert on Monday, May 30 at Byrd Park. Beginning at 4 p.m. at the World War I Memorial Carillon, the city carillonneur Larry Robinson will pay tribute to our nation’s veterans through the ringing of the Carillon Bells, followed by a concert from The Virginians Barbershop Chorus. Mr. Robinson is a dedicated musician who has made the Carillon bells his vocation for more than 50 years.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (804) 646-1031 or 804-646-3680.

Parks and Recreation Starts Summer Off With a Splash!


Looking for something to do this summer? The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) is sure to have an event or program to kick start your summer along with great activities for everyone in your family!

The department will start the 60th Annual Festival of the Arts on Saturday, June 3 with the Richmond Ballet performing at the Dogwood Dell stage. This free performance will feature exciting performances from the professional company as well as the Minds in Motion outreach program.

On Friday, June 17, residents are invited to join PRCF for the start of the 2016 Movies in the Park Series. The first movie in the series will be shown at Byrd Park at 8 p.m. A full schedule of the movie series is available at http://richmondvirginiaparks.blogspot.com/2016/05/movies-in-park-2016.html.

Beginning on Saturday, June 18, all City pools will be open for City residents. Week day hours are 1 to 8 p.m. with free swim available from 1 to 4:30 p.m., family time from 5 to 7 p.m. and adult swim from 7 to 8 p.m. Weekend hours for the outdoor pools are noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

On Monday, June 20, the USDA Summer Meals for Kids begins serving at more than 100 sites across the City of Richmond. The Summer Meals for Kids Program provides children and teens (through the age of 18) nutritious breakfasts and lunches during the summer months. The CarMax Summer basketball league hosted at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road, also begins on June 20. Games are played Monday through Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m.

Monday, June 27 marks the beginning of PRCF’s youth summer camps. Both the “Up, Up and Away” summer camp, for ages 6 to 12, and “Generation Z” teen camp, for ages 13 to 15, are full day camps that operate from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are also specialty camps such as soccer, tennis, and Lego that are available as half day camps.

For more information on these events and PRCF sites and programs, please call (804) 646-5733 or visit www.richmondgov.com/parks.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

City of Richmond Recognized as 2016 Playful City USA


The City of Richmond received KaBOOM’s designation as a 2016 Playful City USA.  This designation, the first of its kind for the city, is the result of a partnership between the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PCRF), the Capital Region Collaborative, and Active RVA - a program of Sports Backers. KaBOOM’s national recognition program honors cities and towns across the country for making their cities more playful.

“This recognition is a great accomplishment as we continue to grow and highlight the abundant recreational opportunities available in Richmond.  Playability adds to the quality of life for all members of our community, and especially families,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Playful City USA is a national recognition program that honors cities and towns across the country for taking bold steps to ensure that children in their communities, particularly kids from low income families, obtain the balanced and active play they need to thrive. Cities and towns, along with leaders from every sector working together, have the power to turn play spaces, and all spaces, into transformative theaters of activity, inspiration, and discovery.

As one of KaBOOM’s corporate partners, this designation brings the award home for Richmond’s CarMax.  "We are proud to partner with KaBOOM! and are excited that our hometown is receiving this designation," said Craig Cronheim, president of The CarMax Foundation.  "We look forward to continuing to work with KaBOOM! to ensure that all kids have a childhood filled with balance and active play, here in Richmond, and across the country. "

The City of Richmond was chosen as a Playful City, USA because of its dedication to a healthier community through its natural resources, partnerships, and innovative programs.  With assets such as the James River Park System, PCRF’s CarMax Summer Basketball League, the ARCPark, the Children’s Museum, and this weekend’s Dominion Riverrock festival, Richmond’s opportunities for activity and play are better than ever.

“Play is far more than just entertainment and leisure. It’s a fundamental component of a thriving community,” said Ashley Hall, Manager of the Capital Region Collaborative. “In a playable environment, children’s creative adventures on the playground create a foundation for classroom learning. For adults and families, play creates connections, expands social networks, and helps to build stronger and safer neighborhoods. We’re proud to join the commitment to playability, which connects across our region’s eight priority areas – from education and quality place, to the James River and healthy communities.”

Active RVA’s Director, Jeff McIntyre, states “Active play is crucial to the well-being of kids, families, and their communities.  By integrating play into cities, play provides a competitive advantage for cities looking to attract and retain residents.  We are proud of Richmond’s designation as a Playful City USA and are committed to providing opportunities for all members of the Richmond community to play and be more active.” 

As a Playful City USA, Richmond will receive gateway road signs, policy tools that leverage up-to-date city data and play space mapping data, and access to grants that support increasing opportunities for play.

To learn more and see the full list of communities named 2016 Playful City USA honorees, or to gather more information on the Playful City USA program, visit www.playfulcityusa.org.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Movies in the Park 2016


Join the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities our 2016 Movies in the Park series!

Our first movie of the year will begin on Friday, June 17 at Byrd Park, 600 S. Boulevard, 23221.

For more information or updates, please visit our Facebook page.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

City to Highlight National Photography Month


The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will celebrate National Photography Month with an exhibit at the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road. The Spotlight Gallery exhibit titled “Slices of Life: RVA” will open on May 13 with a reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Spotlight Gallery exhibit will be on display until June 17.

The exhibit focuses on area photographers capturing life in Richmond, Virginia. Varying genres will be on display in this stunning exhibition and will include digital, film and pinhole photographs.

Spotlight Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. For more information please contact Shaunn Casselle at (804) 646-6722.

 

Help Send Richmond’s Children to Summer Camp



On Thursday, May 5, residents of Central Virginia can help send a child from the City of Richmond to summer camp, as well as hear some of your favorite music by donating to the City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities 9th annual Send a Kid to Camp radiothon.


Through the City’s partnership with the Enrichmond Foundation and Radio One, residents can call (804) 521-8400 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, to donate. For a donation of $25 or more, the caller can have their favorite song played on KISS 99.3/105.7 FM or iPower 92.1/104.1 FM. Donations can also be accepted anytime online at www.enrichmond.org/send-a-kid-to-camp.

All donations are tax deductible and will help pay for city children to attend any of the summer camps hosted by the City department.

This year’s Great Summer Escape camp theme of “Up, Up, and Away” will bring campers an exciting and educational summer experience that will feature activities such as swim lessons, participation in the STEM summer program in partnership with the 4H Virginia Cooperative Extension, and how music has influenced our culture. 

“These funds help us reach children in the city who often have few constructive options for summer activities,” said Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, director for Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities. “By making a donation during the Send a Kid to Camp radiothon, you are helping with the City’s efforts to shape the future of our children.”

The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities summer camp programs offer nine weeks of structured activities for children ages 6 to 12, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The summer camp session begins on June 27 and ends on August 26. For city residents, the cost to send one child to the Great Summer Escape camp is $250; however, the donations from the radiothon are used to provide scholarships for those who need them.

For more information about the Send a Kid to Camp radiothon or summer camp offerings, please call (804) 646-5733 or visit our website at www.richmondgov.com/parks .

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Women in the Arts Exhibit set for March 18



The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host a performance art exhibit in honor of Women’s History Month featuring area artists and performers at the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road. The one night art exhibit titled “Women in the Arts” will open on March 18 with a reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Spotlight Gallery exhibit will be a one-night-only extravaganza.  

This event will feature choreography, storytelling, video footage, renditions, and more inspired by celebrated women artists spanning several generations. Women contributors to the arts such as Lucille Ball, Carmen Miranda, Maya Angelou, and others will be highlighted during this show. This kick-off event will also celebrate the 60 years of showcasing Richmond’s talent at the Festival of Arts at Dogwood Dell.  Dogwood Dell will be celebrating their Diamond Anniversary this year.

The reception is free and open to the public. For more information please contact coordinators Shaunn Casselle or Barbara Brock at (804) 646-6722.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

To Sir...With Love



The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host a group art exhibit featuring area African-American artists at the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road. The art exhibit titled “To Sir With Love: African-American Male as Subject” will open on Feb 5, 2016 with a Meet the Artists reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Spotlight Gallery exhibit will be on display until March 4.  

This exhibition will feature images of African-American males in various media including photography, ceramics, paintings, textile art, and more.
"Promise" by David Marion

Spotlight Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. This exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information or to schedule tours please contact Shaunn Casselle at (804) 646-6722.