Success Stories

Bellemeade Park serves the City of Richmond in an area where many families have limited access to natural recreation and education. Albro Creek runs through the park, which is between an elementary school and residential housing. When partners and residents began looking at the area in 2011, it had been long neglected. No one knew the name of the creek, and many residents didn’t even realize that the overgrown area was a park.

In 2013, after planning and outreach to the community and other stakeholders, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Green Infrastructure Center, and the James River Association partnered with the City of Richmond to restore the Creek’s streambanks and install a forested buffer. A bioswale – a strip of land with permeable fill and plantings, designed to catch and filter rainwater runoff – was also installed to manage neighborhood stormwater and reduce pollution entering the creek.

Forty-four native riparian trees and dozens of shrubs were planted by the Green Infrastructure Center to build the stream buffer along Albro Creek. Several hundred more saplings were planted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The buffer and other park planning were coordinated with the surrounding community to ensure that the newly restored creek and features were visible, and that the park was open, safe, and accessible.

The plantings reduce pollution going into the creek while providing outdoor recreation and learning opportunities for the community and for students attending Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School. The area has also been used for workforce development training through Groundwork RVA, and for other city outreach programs.

Local volunteer organization Friends of Bellemeade Park was a project lynchpin. It provided support throughout the process and continues to support the park and its programs.

“Friends of Bellemeade Park started creating Bellemeade Outdoor Learning Campus in 2012 to utilize the venue as a way to introduce our regional families to outdoor learning and activities,” said Bob Argabright, a much-loved, long-time Friends volunteer and champion of the park. Argabright, known as Mr. Bob to park users, was honored in The Richmonder’s “25in25: series for his work with Bellemeade.

“The Friends host all of Richmond Public Schools preschool centers and home school groups as well as faith based groups,” Argabright said. “We also partner with Oak Grove-Bellmeade Elementary school. We serve approximately 2,500 students per year. The Friends are the driving force and guardians of the park and are responsible for all outdoor programs and maintain the outdoor venue.”