ABOUT FOFP

The Friends of Fonticello Park bridge community voices to facilitate the creation of a vibrant and safe Fonticello Park.

WHO WE ARE

Due to decades of disinvestment, deferred maintenance and neglect, Fonticello Park (formerly Carter Jones Park) had fallen into a state of despair. This lead to crime and violence in the park.

After the tragic murder of Markiya Dickson in the park on Memorial Day 2019, neighbors had had enough of the recurring violence and neglect of Fonticello Park. Through a surge of grassroots community meetings and the leadership of several park neighbors, Friends of Fonticello Park (FOFP) was re-formed in late 2022 to bridge community voices to facilitate the creation of a vibrant and safe Fonticello Park. Friends of Fonticello Park remains committed to honoring the history of Fonticello Park and inspiring future generations. FOFP hopes to co-create a green space that is culturally responsive to the needs of the park community and fosters a sense of belonging.

During Summer 2022, momentum began to grow. In June 2022, community members conducted a walk through of the park to document the crumbling infrastructure and multiple safety issues. On June 29, 2022, Council Person Stephanie Lynch hosted a community meeting with Parks & Recreation Park Director Chris Frelke and Deputy Director Shamar Young regarding the state of Carter Jones Park.

Unfortunately, on September 4, 2022, another shooting occurred in the park after a fight broke out at a baby shower. Three teens were shot, luckily with non-life threatening injuries. This prompted further community outrage at the continued lack of momentum on the park’s future. Ten days later, another community meeting was held in the park hosted by Council member Stephanie Lynch with Parks and Recreation Park Deputy Directors Shamar Young and Nissa Richardson. Community members expressed outrage at the continued deferred maintenance and neglect. At that meeting, Parks and Recreation dispatched electricians and technicians to fix the lighting in the park. The community was starting to see movement on their needs.

City technicians fixing lights

On September 21, the first official Friends of Fonticello Park meeting took place in the park. Both Shamar Young and Josh Feola, the City of Richmond Maintenance and Operations Superintendent were also in attendance. This was meeting was well attended.

By January 2023, the Board had submitted paperwork to become a recognized nonprofit. This status continues to allows us to raise funds for park projects and be more effective in our advocacy.

The Friends group is dedicated to continued improvement and growth in the park. Through continued fundraising, hosted workdays, and community engagement, the Friends of Fonticello Park will continue to work towards the park’s total revitalization, ensuring that the families of Southside finally have access to equitable green space.

Since then, Friends of Fonticello Park have continued to work tirelessly to improve the park and advocate for the community’s needs during the implementation of the master plan. Read about what we’ve been able to accomplish in first 16 months in our first Annual(ish) Report!

OUR COMMUNITY

Fonticello Park is nestled within the neighborhoods of Woodland Heights and the historically black, working class neighborhood of Swansboro. Additionally, the park is also one of the few accessible green spaces on the Southside serving Manchester and Blackwell. Fonticello Park is particularly significant to Swansboro. The neighborhood is approximately 70% black with over 50% of the population having a high school degree or less. Nearly 80% of the residents make under the national average income. Park users come from several areas of the neighborhood, including Melvin A Fox Manor (senior public housing) and Bainbridge apartments (low income housing) both immediately adjacent to the park. Within walking distance of the park (less than a mile) is Stovall Place and additional low income apartment housing on Midlothian and 27th. Additionally, the Boys and Girls Club is just two blocks away. Oftentimes, community members drive or take the bus to the park from surrounding neighborhoods, such as Blackwell, Swansboro West, and the Broad Rock communities, as we are one of the closest and bigger parks nearby.  Each of these neighborhoods have similar demographics to Swansboro. Compared to other parks in the City of Richmond, Fonticello Park uniquely invites a diverse population of park users.


The Friends of Fonticello Park present their team’s gingerbread house entry. Hosted by the young professionals board of the Better Housing Coalition, teams constructed gingerbread houses centered around the 2022 theme, “RVA Neighborhoods.”