In observance of Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, please be advised of the following City of Richmond closures and schedule changes:

• All City of Richmond offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19.

• Public Works - Trash Collection:
  
  • There will be no residential trash collection or bulk and brush collection on Wednesday, June 19. Collection will be delayed by one day: Wednesday's collection will occur on Thursday and Thursday's pickup on Friday, June 21.

• East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC - Landfill):
  
  • Located at 3800 East Richmond Road, will be closed on Wednesday, June 19.

• Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities:
  
  • Centers will be closed on Wednesday however, pools will be open from noon to 7 p.m.

• Public Utilities:
  
  • For emergency utility services, call 804-646-4646 and press option 1.
  • For gas leaks, leave the area and call 911.

• Animal Care and Control:
  
  • Will operate normal hours from noon to 6 p.m.

Stay informed and enjoy your Juneteenth holiday responsibly!

Parks and Recreation Moves Up in Trust for Public Land Park Score Index
Richmond moves from 48^th in 2017 to 22^nd in 2024 out of top 100 cites in America

On May 22, 2024, the Trust for Public Lands released updated their thirteenth Park Score Index for park districts across the country. In a national index of America’s 100 most populous cities, the City of Richmond now ranks #22 in terms of access to high quality park spaces, up from #48 in 2017.

This annual report measures park systems on access, investment, amenities, acreage, and equity. For the 2024 Park Score Index, Richmond scored 62.3 points out of 100 based on the five categories, with 14 measures where points can be awarded. The updated ranking is a 17-point jump from 2023 and is 23 points higher than the year prior.  Richmond’s meteoric rise in park access and resources is a result of intersecting objectives: 

1. The City’s effort to close the park 10-minute walkability gap by creating parks in underserved neighborhoods;
2. The advancement of 4 community center capital projects through opportunities made possible by the American Recovery Plan Act; and
3. The addition of over 80 acres of park lands in south Richmond and the James River Park System.

“Since I took office in 2017, one of the top issues I heard from residents was to improve our park system,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “Now, after seven and half years, more Richmonders have access to our great park system than ever before. Our increased score from the Trust for Public Lands shows the incredible progress we have made in increasing our green space for ALL Richmonders to enjoy! I look forward to this progress continuing for years to come.”

Richmond saw the largest increase in points in the Investment category earning 47 points, an increase of 9 points from 2023. The city has increased the per capita spending for Parks and Recreation from $99 (below the national average in 2022) to $135 per capita (average national spending). The city also saw an increase in points in the measure of percent of low-income households that are within a 10-minute walk of a park. With additional acreage added to Parks and Recreation inventory with sites such as Broad Rock Creek Park located in the 8^th District, South Richmonders can access more greenspace than in previous years.

“Parks are places where we work to redefine our city; where community partners and government work together to activate these spaces,” said Traci DeShazor, Deputy Chief Administration Officer of Human Services. “As we celebrate this new ranking, I would also like to celebrate the staff that are activating park spaces daily and helping the community decide who Richmond is every day.”

Over the last seven years, the city has increased the percentage of city area as parkland from 5% to 7.3% with the purchase of spaces such as the new Dock Street Park, the newly acquired Mayo Island, and the five new parks designated by Mayor Stoney and Council in 2020.

“Our park score shows that Richmond is a premiere place in the country to live and play! We are thrilled to see this monumental movement in our park score. This accomplishment is due to the leadership and support of Mayor Stoney, Council, and Administration, as well as the dedication of our community partners, citizens, and amazing Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities team,” said Chris Frelke, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

To read the entire report, please visit the Trust for Public Land website. For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit our website.

Posted 5-24-24

~ Current permits expire June 30 ~

RICHMOND, Va.  – New parking decals for residents of the Fan Restricted Parking District are on sale. They cost $25 each and are limited. Both mail-in and in-person renewal options are available for qualifying residents. The current Fan parking permit expires June 30, 2024.

Residents must display the Fan permit on their cars to park more than one hour from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and, also on West Avenue, parts of Boyd and Birch Streets, and the 1600 and 1800 blocks of West Grace Street, the regulation is one hour from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Sunday.

A resident is either the residing owner of record or renter of property located within the Restricted Parking District. A City of Richmond Residential Parking Permit Application must be completed and approved prior to decal issuance. To enable the Department of Public Works to verify residency, the following information and photo identification must be provided:

• Residential property owners must provide either a copy of their real estate bill or other information that verifies ownership of the property
• Renters must provide a valid written lease for the property in the Fan Parking District, and have the appropriate approval of the property owner on the application they present

A resident of the district is defined as an owner of record or renter of property in the district and members of their immediate family who reside with the owner or renter at the address in the District:

(1) Who are licensed drivers, and

(2) Whose domicile is the address for which they are seeking to obtain the parking permit

Annual Visitor Passes also are available and limited to two per house or building address at a cost of $35 each.

Annual Visitor Passes must be purchased at the same time the Fan permit is purchased and are restricted to residential homeowners.

Property owners and renters are required to comply with the residency requirements and the motor vehicle registration requirements of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Residents can get more information, verify residency in the Fan Parking District and purchase a permit through the online portal at: https://www.rva.gov/public-works/parking-enterprise

Fan decals and applications are also available at City Hall, Room 102, 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia. The office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please call 804-646-5700 if you have any questions.

For additional details, please use the 3-1-1 mobile app or online portal at www.RVA311.com or call 3-1-1.

For more information on the Department of Public Works, please visit us online at www.rva.gov/public-works or send an email to AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on X @DPW_RichmondVA

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

Media Advisory                                                                               
May 23, 2024
Contact: Petula Burks
Phone: 804.389.7157
petula.burks@rva.gov

For Immediate Release

The City of Richmond Receives AAA Bond Rating from Fitch Ratings

Resiliency |  Stability  |  Strong Reserves

Richmond, VA - Fitch Ratings, one of the three National Credit Rating Agencies, in a press release yesterday, assigned the City the highest possible rating of AAA based on the City’s strong finances, economic profile and well managed operations. This rating, a testament to Richmond's financial resilience and strong reserves, underscores the City's stability and strength. It's a reassurance to our stakeholders and the public that the City of Richmond is in a robust financial position.

The AAA rating, a mark of our financial strength, allows the City to borrow money at the lowest interest rates possible. This translates into significant savings of millions of dollars for our residents. These savings are then channeled towards projects that directly improve our daily lives, such as improvements to roadways, sidewalks and bikeways; improvements to neighborhood parks, libraries, and recreational facilities; construction and major renovations of schools and other City facilities. 

What does this mean for the Diamond District bonds? The rating agency's AAA bond rating underscores the positives of the Diamond District project approved by Council on May 8, 2024. 

"When I came into office, I made the promise of moving the City to a AAA Bond Rating. Today, that promise has been kept,” said Mayor Levar Stoney.  “With the Fitch rating, the City is among an elite class of organizations that have proven financial responsibility at the highest level. I am grateful for all the hard work from city staff, especially DCAO Sabrina Joy-Hogg and finance director Sheila White, and our public and private partnerships that helped make this possible. This is a massive step forward for our city.”

In addition to Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings reaffirmed its 'AA+' long-term rating for Richmond based upon the City’s expanding economy; track record of strong financial results and very strong reserves; and well-established and strong financial management policies. In addition, S&P reaffirmed its Positive Outlook which reflects one-in-three chance that the City could receive an upgrade if it sustains economic growth and financial resilience.

Moody's Ratings has reaffirmed a ‘Aa1’ rating with a Stable Outlook.  The rating is based upon their expectation that the city's financial position will remain healthy given management's conservative budgeting practices and adherence to formal fiscal and debt policies.

Bond ratings for both corporations and government agencies are similar to a credit score. The three primary credit rating agencies are Moody’s Investor Services, Standard & Poor's Global, and Fitch Ratings. These agencies offer impartial evaluations of a bond issuer's financial strength and their ability to repay a bond's principal and interest.

Click here to download the press release.

Richmond receives additional $39M to replace aging natural gas pipes

Richmond, VA – Today, the City of Richmond was awarded $39 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). This award is the largest award in the country and adds to the $10 million awarded to Richmond in April of 2023. The grant funds will strengthen the region’s natural gas distribution system, managed by the Department of Public Utilities, and improve the city’s environmental responsiveness by accelerating the modernization of gas pipelines that will keep citizens safe and energy costs down.

City of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney accepted the grant award, as he thanked the Biden-Harris administration and our federal partners, DOT and PHMSA, as well as our representatives in Congress – Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. Mayor Stoney says, “These grant funds are hugely important as we continue to mitigate safety risks from legacy natural gas distribution pipes, particularly in underserved communities. Investments like this show a collective commitment to the safety and well-being of our communities. My administration has focused on equity since day one, which is why I’m proud Richmond can continue the work of providing access to reliable and affordable energy without further burdening ratepayers.”

Presenting the award was Massoud Tahamtani, PHMSA’s Deputy Associate Administrator. He remarked that, “This first-of-its-kind infrastructure grant program is both making communities safer and helping those rural and urban communities most in need, save money on their energy bills. We are helping communities that are still relying on pipes from the 1800s modernize their systems and reduce emissions of harmful pollution.”

The combined grant funds ($49 million) will repair, rehabilitate, or replace nearly 50 miles of pipe, resulting in a significant reduction in methane pollution emissions.

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program, which provided nearly $1 billion in funding over the course of five years to modernize community-owned natural gas distribution pipes and help to keep communities across the country safe from dangers associated with pipeline leaks. This current grant funding is part of $392 million in grants to support 130 projects aimed at fixing aging natural gas pipelines, helping reduce air pollution and reducing costs for ratepayers in 26 states.

More information about the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities’ gas division can be found here: https://www.rva.gov/public-utilities/news/richmond-gas-utility-overview.

Media Advisory

Media Contact:  

Rhonda Johnson          

804-646-5463