Bobby Mason Blog Post #1
Byrd Park is a very quiet and calm place. Walking through the park, there were many geese located in the lake that is in the center of the park. I mostly see mid to older people walking and running around the lake when I was there. From doing recent research on demographic and economic data, the majority of people that live in this area is mid-forties to early sixties. When I visited, there was a lady that comes to feed the geese with a big bag of food and it was interesting to see that the geese recognize her as soon as she opens her trunk. All of the geese start moving towards her but they don’t try to overtake her. The geese seemed very obedient until she throws them the food. This neighborhood is a lot different than what I’m used to which is VCU. VCU is more city-like compared to Byrd Park. There is a lot less construction and noise going on here. The roads around Byrd Park are a little bumpy but not near as bad as VCU’s. From the look of the houses, they look like normal houses but very inviting with the open patios. This neighborhood is definitely not an upscale type of neighborhood but it’s a neighborhood that have the necessities of one. The park is clean for the most park and people that walk by are friendly. If there was a place I wanted to go to get away from the city just to focus on life, this would be the neighborhood for it.
gabby turner blog post #1
Being able to work in the Byrd Park neighborhood these last few weeks have been a very pleasant experience. It does not seem like your typical neighborhood especially where I am from. Due to me living in the city I hear every little thing from conversations on the sidewalk to police sirens at 4 a.m. in the morning. You also don’t see much of scenic things unless you travel to different cities. Although I had been to Byrd Park before this project was given I was not able to explore the neighborhood as much, and realize how peaceful and scenic it is. While researching and exploring this neighborhood I was able to see how it has changed and grown over the years. Although Byrd Park is close to VCU and the city this neighborhood seems to be so peaceful which is rare. Residents do not have to worry about rowdy neighbors, lots of traffic, or much bother period. Byrd Park has a lot of things that can be done beside living. While riding through Byrd Park neighborhood it was very nice to see people having fun, laughing, and overall out enjoying themselves in nature and a beautiful neighborhood. They have a lake, which has paddle boating, trails that can be used for exercise or leisure, also birds that can be a very pretty site. It seems that this would be the perfect neighborhood to live and raise a family where you do not have to worry about crimes or any disturbances.
cierra matthews blog post #1
The first time going to the neighborhood of Byrd Park I didn’t know what to expect. I have only come to Byrd park about 5-10 times and most of the times being during Arts in the Park. Arts in the Park is a festival that takes place during what happens to be one of the hottest weekends of the summer every year, where artists gather in Byrd Park and sell and show their work. Many of the art pieces in my parents’ home are from Arts in the Park.
Being from Mechanicsville, Virginia, my idea of the city has been almost a revolving door of explanations. I used to think Carytown was the only part of the city with food and shopping and now that I have lived here for two years I barely go there. My horizons have been broadened and I spend more time walking than I ever have. I am not a very outdoorsy person so going to parks is out of my comfort zone but I have enjoyed the time that I have had to go to Byrd Park to explore to learn more about the area.
Byrd park is huge in size to me, I couldn’t believe how many nooks and crannies it has. I loved all of the greenery at the beginning of this project and getting to watch the leaves turn color. I loved some of the houses around that have been kept up very well and looked like a nice and quiet place to live. I appreciate when people take pride in their homes, no matter where it is. I think your home should be a reflection of who you are, what stage of life you may be in or your family style. I understand that isn’t always an option due to money but in Byrd Park I feel like most of the homes meant something to the residents. They are proud to live in that part of Richmond.
Being from Mechanicsville, Virginia, my idea of the city has been almost a revolving door of explanations. I used to think Carytown was the only part of the city with food and shopping and now that I have lived here for two years I barely go there. My horizons have been broadened and I spend more time walking than I ever have. I am not a very outdoorsy person so going to parks is out of my comfort zone but I have enjoyed the time that I have had to go to Byrd Park to explore to learn more about the area.
Byrd park is huge in size to me, I couldn’t believe how many nooks and crannies it has. I loved all of the greenery at the beginning of this project and getting to watch the leaves turn color. I loved some of the houses around that have been kept up very well and looked like a nice and quiet place to live. I appreciate when people take pride in their homes, no matter where it is. I think your home should be a reflection of who you are, what stage of life you may be in or your family style. I understand that isn’t always an option due to money but in Byrd Park I feel like most of the homes meant something to the residents. They are proud to live in that part of Richmond.
Chloe pollard blog post #1
I was personally handling majority of the photography and the building of the website. My first visit to Byrd Park, I had a realization that even though I thought this was my first visit, it wasn't. I had come here before to view the fireworks on the Fourth of July. I definitely tended to remain close to the park itself. The timing could not have been more perfect, the leaves were changing and it was a beautiful fall day. The scenery surrounding the park and the three lakes drew me in. The park happened to be popular that day. I saw multiple people just hanging out through out the park, jogging, taking a walk, biking, and fishing. I even saw a man with a little set up as he played his acoustic guitar by Fountain/Boat lake. Personally, I noticed that the park was very clean, their wasn't a whole lot of debris or pollution which made it even more admirable. I happened to have visited with my parents who told me stories of their peddle boat trips in Fountain Lake and specifically my dad ice skating as a child in the winter when the lake would freeze over. I found that Swan Lake is a little to loud with all the geese for my liking but is unique of the three with a small island located in the center. My first visit to our assigned neighborhood overall, was good. Next time, I definitely plan on venturing over into the actual neighborhood aspect.
Josh Elder Blog Post #1
Working in the Byrd Park neighborhood over the past weeks has been relatively mellow. There aren’t sirens passing through, or the chaotic feeling of being in the capital city of Virginia. It is peaceful, with lakes and parks providing for a scenic backdrop of the changing leaves and changing seasons.
In just riding my bike through on the way to dogwood dell, or driving through to make my way to the interstate and avoid toll roads, it seems quiet, comparatively. There are families making their way to Maymont for an afternoon together. There are runners out for an afternoon making their way around Shields and Swan Lake. There are so many geese on the muddy banks, pooping everywhere. There are kids feeding those same geese, while mom and dad watch carefully.
Both big and small, the homes that line the leaf colored streets are well cared for, for the most part. Multi colored front yards are either being mowed, or are left to soak up the rest of the fall foliage before winter comes. Front porches look nice and kempt, with chairs and patio furniture nice and neat. Every now and then, I’ll come across a couple on the porch, having coffee and a conversation.
The feelings of the neighborhood, overall, are very peaceful. If you think having a wealthier neighborhood on the north banks of the James, with multiple parks and lakes built in would lead to a scenic setting to set up your home, you are probably right. Byrd park has the feeling of quiet, older suburbs while being minutes away from the business of daily city life.
In just riding my bike through on the way to dogwood dell, or driving through to make my way to the interstate and avoid toll roads, it seems quiet, comparatively. There are families making their way to Maymont for an afternoon together. There are runners out for an afternoon making their way around Shields and Swan Lake. There are so many geese on the muddy banks, pooping everywhere. There are kids feeding those same geese, while mom and dad watch carefully.
Both big and small, the homes that line the leaf colored streets are well cared for, for the most part. Multi colored front yards are either being mowed, or are left to soak up the rest of the fall foliage before winter comes. Front porches look nice and kempt, with chairs and patio furniture nice and neat. Every now and then, I’ll come across a couple on the porch, having coffee and a conversation.
The feelings of the neighborhood, overall, are very peaceful. If you think having a wealthier neighborhood on the north banks of the James, with multiple parks and lakes built in would lead to a scenic setting to set up your home, you are probably right. Byrd park has the feeling of quiet, older suburbs while being minutes away from the business of daily city life.
Bobby Mason blog post #2
For my second post, I wanted to dig deeper and see what is under the surface of Byrd Park. When you first get to Byrd Park, everything is nice and peaceful which seems too good to be true. From observing the economic data, 1,443 people live here with the majority being older adults. With this in mind, this seems like an easy target for crime like robberies to happen. According to “areavibes.com” the overall crime rate in Byrd Park is 17% higher than the national average but Byrd Park is safer than 45% of the cities in the Virginia. There will always be crime anywhere you go, even rich neighborhoods so Byrd Park is pretty safe for the most part. Further observations that are important to me is education. There are only about 200 kids that live in Byrd Park. Compared to other areas, that is pretty small. Maymont Elementary School is the closest elementary school then Binford Middle School. By the high school level, you either have to travel a far distance to high school or move to a different area. This could be the reason why older people live in this area since they don’t have to worry about where their child is going to school. For a family that maybe looking for a home, Byrd Park seems like a great place for children but not for older kids. From researching demographics and visiting Byrd Park, I can say that If you live alone or retired, this would be a great place to live since you have the city life you can visit, but when you get back home It is nice and quite.
Gabby Turner Blog Post #2
Byrd Park is a beautiful and peaceful neighborhood. It has many different features that suit all ages. Walking through this neighborhood gives me goose bumps because it is so quiet and refreshing. You hear birds chirping, the wind blowing the trees and having a cool breeze pass you by. Also, the beautiful leaves that have fallen sets the scene perfectly. Watching people enjoy there time out there really makes me want to move into this neighborhood. The houses are so beautiful and looks so comfortable and homey. The house that caught my attention the most was this house that looks to have been built around 1920s and is a Tudor structure with a slate rooftop. It also has double pane/storm windows. This house reminds me a lot of a neighborhood named Old Towne back in Portsmouth, Virginia. This home also looks similar to some of Busch Gardens amusement park buildings because each part of the park is from a different country. Being able to take Lake Rd all the way around the lake was such an amazing idea because you can get an entire visual of not only the houses but the lake as well. Also, the trees around the entire neighborhood gives off mother nature vibes which seems very natural, life-giving, and natural aspects. My opinion on this neighborhood has drastically changed since the beginning of this project. Like stated previously I would love to live in Byrd Park neighborhood and would recommend it to anyone who ever ask.
Cierra Matthews Blog post #2
When I knew this project was winding down I took time to focus on the feel of the neighborhood. I wanted to see what the residents see when they live there. I went on a few walks in the morning in Byrd Park with friends who had no idea I was doing a project and I think that was one of my best ideas throughout this assignment.
I chose not to tell them because then they would be searching for things the whole time just so I could write down a new fact or take a new picture of the area. Since I didn’t tell them, I got to see what actually caught their eyes, like the wildlife, the variety of parked cars, the hidden garages, the flowers and extravagant plants and perfectly cut hedges earlier in the autumn season and even the custom mailboxes with last names on them. The area seems very family oriented with people who are interested in living in the Richmond area but just outside of the “busy city” part.
You can see that the residents take pride in their homes and are always looking to improve it or I just happened to go visit the neighborhood when something broke and was getting repaired. Either way, I have pictured my life when I grow up just as any young lady has, and I want to live in a place where my future family has access to the city, to a wide area of land and to have neighbors with their last names on their mailboxes.
I chose not to tell them because then they would be searching for things the whole time just so I could write down a new fact or take a new picture of the area. Since I didn’t tell them, I got to see what actually caught their eyes, like the wildlife, the variety of parked cars, the hidden garages, the flowers and extravagant plants and perfectly cut hedges earlier in the autumn season and even the custom mailboxes with last names on them. The area seems very family oriented with people who are interested in living in the Richmond area but just outside of the “busy city” part.
You can see that the residents take pride in their homes and are always looking to improve it or I just happened to go visit the neighborhood when something broke and was getting repaired. Either way, I have pictured my life when I grow up just as any young lady has, and I want to live in a place where my future family has access to the city, to a wide area of land and to have neighbors with their last names on their mailboxes.
Chloe Pollard Blog PosT #2
I ended up visiting our assigned neighborhood again and this time with more background information. Going in, this time, I had a list of things I wanted to check out. Some of those things were the Fallen Police Officer Memorial, the Christopher Columbus Statue, and the Byrd Park Tennis Court Area. I personally loved the Fallen Police Memorial, I thought it had a lot of meaning to it and it was very well made and thought out. As I did some more walking around, Cierra, who joined me, noticed that outside of the The Landing at Fountain Lake is a Solar Compacter. I found it very interesting that this park had a solar compacter in it's possession. In my previous visit and blog post, I noted at how clean the park, itself, was. We decided to drive through the area a little more, checking out the churches and the Virginia Home. Going in with a little more knowledge on the area itself, helped me organize what I wanted to see and what I specifically needed for said project. Again, the colors and the weather could not have been more perfect for walking around the neighborhood. I've enjoyed learning about this neighborhood, from the history to the actual grounds.
Josh Elder Blog Post #2
After conducting the interviews with three very different Byrd Park residents, a few things stand out as being different than what I had envisioned to hear. Most residents spoke openly of the gentrification that seems to have been happening throughout the past ten years in the neighborhood. It wasn’t a taboo subject that should be lightly addressed, but rather one that is occurring and should be recognized. A few residents even addressed that they were part of the gentrification occurring.
There are clearly defined boundaries of the neighborhood, and most resident seemed to know those boundaries well. However, I some residents that lived on the outskirts of the neighborhood didn’t have the same impression of the area as those who lived closer to the center. I had just assumed that someone who lives in Byrd Park felt that they lived in Byrd park, not a subsector of it. After conducting interviews and spending some time in the neighborhood however, I can understand why they would feel this way. The overall feeling you get when close to Meadow Street is much different than the one you get driving around fountain lake.
There were also commonalities within residents. Most enjoyed the area’s parks and were excited to not have to drive to see fireworks on the 4th of July (Or sit in the traffic that accompanied the show) . They were all also very friendly and inviting, Whether I visited them at their homes, or at work, they were happy to take time out of their daily lives to talk to me about their experiences living in the area.
There are clearly defined boundaries of the neighborhood, and most resident seemed to know those boundaries well. However, I some residents that lived on the outskirts of the neighborhood didn’t have the same impression of the area as those who lived closer to the center. I had just assumed that someone who lives in Byrd Park felt that they lived in Byrd park, not a subsector of it. After conducting interviews and spending some time in the neighborhood however, I can understand why they would feel this way. The overall feeling you get when close to Meadow Street is much different than the one you get driving around fountain lake.
There were also commonalities within residents. Most enjoyed the area’s parks and were excited to not have to drive to see fireworks on the 4th of July (Or sit in the traffic that accompanied the show) . They were all also very friendly and inviting, Whether I visited them at their homes, or at work, they were happy to take time out of their daily lives to talk to me about their experiences living in the area.