What's New?

Lake Renovation Completed

Around the middle of October, the bulk of the Forest Hill Park lake restoration project was complete and the site was no longer a construction zone. The work, which was completed earlier than expected and under budget, was performed under the management of Eric and Erin Zeigler of Metropolitan Environmental Services, Inc., and Louis Duval of Whitman, Requardt & Associates LLP. Native trees and shrubs were planted at the southern end of the lake, which will serve as a wetland. Items left to be completed by the City’s department of public works include the reinstallation of lighting around the lake and pathways and the replacement of benches around the lake. Repaving of pathways and roadways also will be undertaken. A separate contract will be procured to complete the construction of a new footbridge at the south end of the lake, thus completing the pedestrian circuit.

The Friends of Forest Hill Park is pleased with the project and attention to detail that the dredging company gave to the park and the restoration of this historic element. The City’s parks department is planning on a grand opening sometime in the spring.

In October, Forest Hill Park was the site of vandalism that included spray-painted epithets and symbols. Most of the painting was on concrete walkways, but some of the contractors’ equipment was also vandalized. Police believe that this vandalism is connected to similar defacement seen in Byrd Park and other city parks. City park staff quickly removed the vandalism and no other incidents have occurred. Lieutenant John A. O'Kleasky, Jr. of the Third Precinct—Sector 312 has assigned Officer Stacy Rogers to patrol of Forest Hill Park. Ofc. Rogers will be responsible for policing park areas and surrounding neighborhoods in Sector 312. Please do not hesitate to contact him with any issues or events related to park activity. Precinct Phone: 646-1412, E-mail: Stacy.Rogers@richmondgov.com

Contacts:

Larry Miller
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities
646-0037, LARRY.MILLER@RICHMONDGOV.COM

Mary Lois Mitchum
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities 646-0199, Mary.Lois.Mitchum@richmondgov.com

Linwood Seward
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities
646-8913, Linwood.Seward@richmondgov.com

Kathy Graziano, Fourth District Council Representative
320-2454, Kathy.Graziano@Richmondgov.com

Martin Jewell, Fifth District Council Representative
646-6050, Marty.Jewell@Richmondgov.com

Curry Nelms, Co-President, Friends of Forest Hill Park
231-1595, cnelms@comcast.net

Debra McClane, Co-President, Friends of Forest Hill Park
233-3890, d_mcclane@hotmail.com

Forest Hill Yacht Club Logo Contest

Forest Hill Neighborhood Association (FHNA) has invented the Forest Hill Yacht Club to celebrate the lake renovations in Forest Hill Park, which are expected to be completed later this spring. This "imaginary" organization was founded to raise awareness of Forest Hill neighborhood and the park, to foster a sense of community across all South Bank neighborhoods, to raise funds for native plantings in Forest Hill Park, to encourage wholesome activities in the park, and for just plain fun!

A yacht club needs a logo, so here’s you chance to help! See the logo contest form for details. Deadline to submit entries is March 1, 2010.

The first annual Forest Hill Yacht Club Regatta will take place on the shores of the Forest Hill Park Lake on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at 2:30 p.m., as part of the Grand Reopening Events of the Forest Hill Park Lake. See the registration form for eligible categories and registration fees. Forms should be returned to Robley Jones with payment at: 4112 Springhill Avenue, Richmond, VA 23225. Questions? Contact Robley at: robleyj@aol.com

Click here for the Logo Contest Form.
Click here for the Regatta Registration Form.

Trail Redevelopment Plan
Click here for an overview of the Forest Hill Park Trail Redevelopment Plan.

Monica Rumsey Receives Community Service Award from Richmond City Council

The award was to honor her many years of dedicated service and accomplishments on behalf of Forest Hill Park.

Pictured here are Monica and her husband Nicholas as City Council President Kathy Graziano presents her award.

Click here to read the proclamation for the Community Service Award that Monica Rumsey received on February 13, 2009.

Our New Sign

Park Sign Restores Historic Gateway

A new sign stands proudly above the brick columns at the historic entrance to Forest Hill Park. For Friends of Forest Hill Park, it is a dream fulfilled, and one more piece of the puzzle as they work to restore the park to its former glory.
See the "New" and the "Old" signs below, and read the Story of the Two Signs.

Here Is Our "New" Sign:

This Was the Old Sign:

This picture was taken around 1910. The sign itself dates from around 1890.

The Story of the Two Signs

When FFHP began researching the park’s history many years ago in the Valentine Richmond History Center archives, they found a photograph from around 1910 that showed a man standing by the trolley tracks at the Forest Hill Amusement Park entrance on Forest Hill Avenue.

According to neighborhood legend, some time in the 1940s, during World War II, the iron letters were taken down as scrap iron “for the war effort” and the stucco columns were changed to brick.

Fast forward to 2006, when the Forest Hill Neighborhood Association sponsored its first annual House Tour. A wish list of donations was drawn up, and neighbors voted to give some of the house tour proceeds to Friends of Forest Hill Park, to restore the missing sign. Some $3500 was pledged for the sign.

Last summer, a less than accurate sign reproduction was installed, but was later rejected in favor of greater historical accuracy. Thanks to the expert eye and typographic skills of admitted “type-font junkie” Matt Boyle at Acorn Sign Graphics, the letters on the new sign precisely match the ones in the original historic photo. (Matt is a Westover Hills resident)

Custom Ornamental Iron of Glen Allen was kind enough to redo the sign at no extra charge, meticulously fabricating it according to Acorn’s digital specifications.

If you get a chance, please stop by and see for yourself what a difference a grand entrance can make to a beloved old neighborhood hangout.

Volunteer!

Please see our "Become A Friend" page for ideas on how you can volunteer with the Friends of Forest Hill Park.