28 Responses to “Chimborazo ain’t what it used to be”

1. posted by JJ at July 23, 2008 11:51 am :
   

   Thanks Mr. Henry Boschen Jr of Chesterfield Co., for you comments concerning Chimborazo Park and “It Ain’t What It Used To Be”.
   I propose you and others join the Hands On Greater Richmond project (now forming) and pick Chimbo for your special project. You then could help and contribute to the cleaning, fixing and mowing of the park - so as to return it to its former beautiful “glory days”.

   See you Mr. Boschen on the 18th of Oct and remember to bring gloves, water, bug spray and sun screen for the four-hours of park clean-up.
   I look forward to meeting you then.

   By the way, we don’t need any big high-rise condo development (commercial, private or otherwise) in our community to give us the money or motivation to clean up or preserve our parks

2. posted by Chimbo at July 23, 2008 12:35 pm :
   

   There is already a friends of Chimborazo group. It is newly created and is working with the city to obtain official status. Once the organization is official, a plan will be drawn up for the parks rennovation and submitted to the community for input.

   I will be using this website as one of my methods to communicate with the community to keep them updated, solicit support, and advertise workdays.

   I would suggest that any efforts to work on or in the park be coordinated with the department of parks and recreation in order to ensure that all liability issues are addressed. And that the work is going on in the proper areas. Unfortunately, some of those weeds on the hill at chimborazo are all that prevent the hill from washing away during heavy rains.

   You can contact me at friendsofchimborazo@gmail.com

3. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 23, 2008 1:30 pm :
   

   Wow…sounds like Chimbo is a mess! I didn’t know there was a weather station building there. Is it a historic building or a modern one used by the radio/TV stations? And if the latter, why isn’t it still being used? Any history behind it?

   Eric

4. posted by jc at July 23, 2008 2:20 pm :
   

   I recently learned a little about this. The Richmond National Battlefield Park Headquarters / Chimborazo Medical Museum was originally the US Weather Bureau Building.

5. posted by Paul at July 23, 2008 4:06 pm :
   

   I used to live on 32nd facing Chimborazo, which I love. The gentle clacking and squealing of trains in the distance was wonderful and I loved the hillside trails and view. I haven’t hiked there in a while, but last I saw, the trails were in bad condition and a little scary. It would be a difficult challenge to clean up and police.

   The RNBP museum is great and has a great relief map/model of the hospital and surrounding area.

6. posted by tvnewsbadge at July 24, 2008 11:00 am :
   

   i was at the park the other day, and there were joggers and kids playing and folks taking the evening air, so it’s not a total wasteland.

   What gets my first up tough, is the way the City of Richmond has shut down the natual spring that has served us well for generation after generation.

   The claim they can’t afford the small change it would take to test the water, so they just put up a sign claiming the water is unsafe. That’s just wrong.

7. posted by eco_chick at July 25, 2008 7:55 am :
   

   i drove through the park (although- yes i know i’m not supposed to…) but i was showing my sister around during her first richmond visit…
   and low and behold- BAM! right on one of the benches- in broad daylight- a woman was giving a man a BJ!!!!!
   i was APPALLED!
   thank god i was at least driving and not walking my dog and being face to face with these pervert!
   it’s a public park for pete’s sake!

8. posted by eco_chick at July 25, 2008 7:56 am :
   

   by the way- this was on wednesday, july 23rd

9. posted by SEW at July 25, 2008 8:05 am :
   

   nice…they are getting bolder…

10. posted by HummerDoc at July 25, 2008 8:28 am :
    

    Well you know what they say…when in rome…or “what happens in Chimbo, stays in Chimbo”, except when it gets posted to a blog…
    let’s roll!…to the pub,
    -G

11. posted by Kathleen at July 25, 2008 8:28 am :
    

    Y’all, please, when you see stuff like the BJ or people drinking in Chimbo Park, call the police.

12. posted by SEW at July 25, 2008 9:22 am :
    

    Yum…a beer at the pub does sound rather tasty right about now!

13. posted by Amy N-B at July 25, 2008 4:58 pm :
    

    I think that the park looks great these days. Lots of people hanging out, walking dogs, jogging. The grass is cut very regularly and things have been great since the dog park got put in.

    Please don’t call the police about drinking, because like so many things on the hill it will turn into a race thing. As in, it’s fine for white people walking their dogs to drink a glass of wine or a beer en route, but not okay for a black guy to drink a beer on a bench. Strictly speaking no one is supposed to drink in the park, but I prefer a don’t ask, don’t tell policy on that one.

    BJs on the other hand…. well, not so cool given that lots of kiddies have been playing in the park of late.

14. posted by Michael Hild at July 26, 2008 5:44 am :
    

    Amy N-B,

    I respectfully disagree. There should be no drinking in the park (wine, beer, or hard liquor). Your “tolerance approach” is the same mentality that has created the persistent acceptance of crappy living conditions in Church Hill for way too long. It is also one reason why you don’t see nearly as many families with children in Church Hill as there could be. Do you really want to go to a park with your kids, dog, or spouse when you can count on a bum on every park bench drinking away because your neighbor deemed that was OK?

    Let’s be honest. Chimborazo Park has been in terrible shape for a long time. It has only gotten worse over the last few years due to neglect and the effects of Hurricane Gaston. When you add the tolerance of illegal behavior such as drinking to the park’s poor condition, it becomes a magnet for crime. The criminal element will continues to test what they can get away with until suddenly people start getting shot on a regular basis. It is a classic example of the “broken window” phenomenon. Church Hill residents have tolerated these small crimes for way too long. We need to crack down hard to let people know that unlawful behavior is not acceptable, no matter what race you are. Anyone drinking in the park should be cited.

    So I say call the police as frequently as possible when you see someone drinking in one of the Church Hill parks. Have you already forgotten that an innocent woman was raped not too long ago in Libby Hill Park? Perhaps a few more harmless drinkers lying on the benches would help improve safety since she could have called them for help to come rescue her. Give me a break! That poor girl and countless others have suffered because we continue to look away when we see illegal behavior. The criminals are counting on your naivety.

15. posted by C.A.R. at July 27, 2008 12:14 pm :
    

    Hello,

    I am a C.A.R. representative, and wanted to remind you all of our basic rules regarding BJs in historic areas. All BJs should be historic (para. 4, sec. 2 of C.A.R. regs, 2007).

    Within 25 yards of said BJ, there should be:
    a). at least one horse-drawn carriage
    b). at least one plow pulled by one of the following: donkey, jackass, mule, deer, ox, ox-deer, donkey-mule, ox-face, deer-ass.
    c. at least one bulb lit to approximate one gas-light of 1869.

    Person giving Historic BJ should at all times, man or woman, be wearing:
    a). whale-bone corset
    b). something flouncy and blousey, preferably Victorian ruffled originals.
    c). have a bible under each knee.

    Person receiving Historic BJ should be wearing:
    a). stove-pipe hat.
    b). long beard (Hardi-Plank OK)
    c). suspenders
    d). pleasant, historical expression on face, such as “merriment” or “jovial.”

    Please keep all of these rules and regs in mind, people. Seriously, let’s keep our neighborhood historic, before it’s the future!

16. posted by Dave at July 28, 2008 5:34 pm :
    

    C.A.R. … classic!!!

17. posted by SEW at July 30, 2008 8:49 am :
    

    C.A.R., Thanks! That was a GREAT Wednesday morning laugh!

18. posted by john_m at July 30, 2008 9:26 am :
    

    Kathleen Sanders has a response to Mr. Boschen in today’s paper:

    In response to the letter from Henry Boschen Jr. regarding Chimborazo Park, “Disheveled Appearance Shocks Former Resident”: I am a resident of the upper Church Hill area, known as the Chimborazo Old and Historic District. Chimborazo Park is my stomping ground and I spend a good deal of time there. I’m sorry that Boschen found the park in such disrepair. I understand his dismay.

    The park has struggled over the years. Not long ago, the park served exclusively as a drive-through for drug sales and prostitution. No one went to the park to enjoy it. It was a dangerous place with a bad reputation.

    Now, while aesthetically it still needs a good deal of work, the park is a safe haven. It’s regularly patrolled by the Richmond police and animal control; city services are in place. Just three years ago, crack dealers inhabited the front porch of my current residence. Now my house has been renovated and my street is safe and a distinctively eclectic place to live.

    In addition to the criminal activities that plagued Chimborazo, the park also experienced substantial damage during Tropical Storm Gaston. The horizontal walkway that Boschen remembers was washed away and the remains of that hillside are located in lower Chimborazo Park.

    There are good things happening there now. A Friends of Chimborazo committee was formed recently. With money and services stretched tight, residents must take some responsibility for the parks that the public enjoys.

    I hope Boschen gives us some time and comes back to visit again.

19. posted by Rosa at August 3, 2008 3:27 pm :
    

    My parents use to take thier children to this park very often. My father would fly kites with, while my mother use lay on blanket and read. We would make day out of it. I wanted my children too enjoy the park like I did. It is about race, because white moved back in the area and started to complaining. Park start closing at dusk. Everyone don’t like dogs and many people are afraid of dogs, like I am. Dogs should stay at home. I can’t enjoy myself around a dog. I pay taxes, and dogs don’t. Dogs don’t belong in public places. People don’t care about people. I respect other people, you have a right to have a dog. When I know a person have a dog I don’t I don’t vist.

20. posted by lisa at August 3, 2008 5:09 pm :
    

    Was that a joke?

21. posted by Celeste at August 3, 2008 8:25 pm :
    

    A little history… J. Fulmer Bright was a former mayor of Richmond, he died sometime in the 1930’s and left a bequest to the city to maintain the ‘Patrick Henry Park System,’ and the city invested that money in a trust fund, which, by the time someone at the city discovered the fund, was not recognized as a ‘park system.’ The discovery of the fund was back sometime in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s - apparently the city had invested the money somewhere and the folks in the finance office forgot to check on it. I know, it sounds weird - but every so often the state runs a list of unclaimed property, and there’s usually a lot of checking and saving accounts listed that folks have forgotten about…..I wouldn’t forget mine, but apparently a large organization like the city forgot about this one.

    There was a guy in the city attorney’s office, a lawyer by the name of Tim Oaksman (former resident of 29th Street), who discovered the fund, (or laid claim to discovering it) and by that time it had grown and grown and was worth several million dollars.

    A committee was formed of residents of the area. The decision was made that the Patrick Henry Park System would include Chimborazo Park, Libby Hill Park, Jefferson Park, and Patrick Henry Park (the little park across from St. John’s Church and the fire station). I think Great Shiplock Park down on Dock Street was also part of the system, but am not sure.

    At any rate, the committee made a report, and a landscape firm was hired to make recommendations. Among the many recommendations, Chimborazo Park was considered a not safe area, due to the things mentioned in post #18. Drive thru, drugs, etc. So, bollards were installed to deter drive thru, and much landscaping was done. Sadly, after the entire trust fund was spent, including a million or so dollars on Chimbo Park, the city did not fund much maintenance of the park system.

    Since then, the padlocks have been sawn off, the chains attached to the bollards have been removed by vandals, and Chimborazo became, yet again, a drive thru haven for those who aren’t trying to enjoy the park for anything other than illegal activities. I think that the recent dog park activity, combined with the neighborhood use of that park, have contributed greatly to an enhanced Chimborazo Park, and commend Kathleen Sanders (whom I don’t think I know) for her comments (#18) which are spot on.

    The sad thing is that the city just seems to lack the funds to maintain ANY of the parks. When I was in my teens living in Cincinnati, the park system there was incredible, and contributed to the overall life style. I hope that the residents of the area, and of ALL parks, continue to try to maintain them. It is a shame the city can’t fund proper maintenance, but if neighbors get together, they can enhance the parks greatly.

    A friend has told me that he has elderly relatives who remember wedding receptions in Chimbo, back when it was truly a really grand place - something Mr. Boschen seems to also remember. I hope it gets back to that soon.

    And no, lisa, I don’t think #19 is a joke, unfortunately. Wish it was.

    BTW, I’m open to long time residents correcting my memory of the J. Fulmer Bright Park Trust Fund, too! :)

22. posted by wedding day at August 3, 2008 11:38 pm :
    

    there was a wedding in the park this morning/afternoon! at least i think it was a wedding. a reception, at least. something involving a tent, some chairs, and some people.

23. posted by Rosa at August 4, 2008 5:21 pm :
    

    20# No you are

24. posted by Rosa at August 4, 2008 5:23 pm :
    

    You did post it

25. posted by Lendo at August 4, 2008 5:27 pm :
    

    Also ain’t what it used to be:

    - The Old Grey Mare

26. posted by mike at August 5, 2008 8:35 am :
    

    “My father would fly kites with, while my mother use lay on blanket and read. We would make day out of it. I wanted my children too enjoy the park like I did. It is about race, because white moved back in the area and started to complaining. Park start closing at dusk.”

    So, you used to fly kites and read in the park after dark? Otherwise this doesn’t make any sense…

27. posted by eco_chick at August 5, 2008 9:30 am :
    

    rosa-
    your comments are absolutely ridiculous! (what we can understand of them in the first place!). disapproving of drug deals and prostitution has nothing to do with what race these people are- what they do in the park is illegal, period. as for kite flying, etc- feel free to do so again! i don’t think anyone would look down on such activities. of course, all city parks have been and still all CLOSE at dark. and for your fear of dogs– deal with it. the dogs have their own doggie park now, so you shouldn’t have to worry. I pay my taxes too… and my taxes, personal money and personal sweat-equity went into creating a dog-friendly area where we too could relax. Why don’t you try to make some sort of effort towards the park if you’re so disappointed with all the ‘whites’ complaining about everything?

28. posted by SEW at August 5, 2008 9:46 am :
    

    Eco_chick, I have to agree with you…there seems to be a lot of people complaining, but I doubt seriously that any of the habitual complainers do a damn thing to make things any better. I have not personally been to the dog park (my little pup is a bit frightened by other dogs), however, I have seen the park from above and it looks wonderful. Kudos to you and everyone else who worked so hard to a great new area for the dogs to enjoy!

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