December 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 51

Future

AG e N Cy vi e w

RICHMOND PARKS
Population: 200,000
Resources: 67 parks,
3,000 acres, 26 miles of
trails, 8 cemeteries
Agency Director:
norman Merrifield

Operating Budget:
$15 million
Enterprise Fund:
$1.3 million
Employees: 201 full time

Norman Merrifield, Director of Parks,
Recreation and Community Facilities

away and pay down some of our debt so we will have money for large projects
that are on our front burner. "

Uniquely Richmond
Not every city has pristine Class IV river rapids running through its downtown, and Jones is making extra efforts to protect an unusual resource that
draws Olympic-level kayakers from around the country. The city is currently
developing a riverfront master plan around what Jones calls its greatest asset.
" We have dedicated 250 acres as a conservation easement area-we
have 550 acres there along the James, " Jones says of his plans for James River. " That's going to create a nice buffer between the river and development
and also provide access to the river. "
The James River also served as a prominent transportation corridor in a
darker chapter in the city's history as a slave port. Rather than burying its
past, Richmond is now trying to explore its heritage through archaeological
digs at the infamous Lumpkin Slave Jail as well as at other sites.
" When you look at the history of slavery, Richmond was one of the main
depots of the slave trade....We're trying to preserve these sites and one
day we would even like to do a slave museum here, " Jones says. " What we have done
initially is to provide the trail that follows the
steps of the slaves who came to Richmond.
The new signage allows people to go along
the trail and do a self-tour. "

A Wonderful System

Mayor Jones
understands the
spirit that recreation
provides the soul.
-norman Merrifield

Jones knows the benefits of parks fi rsthand
from his frequent walks in Richmond's renowned Byrd Park.
" It's a wonderful one-mile circular trail, "
he says. " I try to go around it two or three
times trying to get the cardio going. "
" We want to create more green space, we
want our parks to be pristine and renovated,
and we want to have that connected to the
recreational piece, " he continues. " I think we
have a wonderful system. We have renovated
and restored a couple parks and I'm looking
forward to doing a lot more of that. "
-Elizabeth Beard, Managing Editor,
Parks & Recreation

helpinG MAYoR DWiGht
Jones accomplish his mission
is his newly appointed director
of parks, Recreation and community Facilities, Dr. norman
Merrifield.
" he's not a neophyte-he
knows the game, " Jones says
of his selection. " We needed
somebody who had parks experience as well as rec experience and we felt that he
did-and so far he's done a good job. "
Most recently employed as the director of the cincinnati
Recreation commission, Merrifield also has served as the director of the el paso parks and Recreation Department and as assistant superintendent for Administration, Recreation and park
police for the Minneapolis park and Recreation board. he holds
a b.A. and M.A. from indiana university (indiana) in recreation
and park administration, as well as a doctorate in adult education, also from indiana university. his doctoral dissertation focused on park and school relationships-an area he continues
to emphasize in Richmond.
" the potential relationship with schools will be significant
and may be a model for 21st-century park-school relationships, "
Merrifield says. " here it could be uniquely expanded and we
are having those conversations now. some of it is the history
and some of it is the leadership we have with Mayor Jones and
with the school superintendent.... We need to provide greater
services in the recreation area, particularly for youth. We have
after-school activities for youth in our recreation centers but
we also have an after-school program accredited by the state
in childcare in 20 public schools. "
this year, the department is emphasizing the arts in its after-school programs. A comprehensive selection of fine arts is
available for community participation at the city's pine camp
Arts building and at recreation centers.
Merrifield knows that he has a strong ally in the mayor, and
says it's a pleasure to serve in his administration.
" Mayor Jones is very supportive and he is very knowledgeable on parks and recreation's role in the community, " he says.
" he understands the value of our green space. he appreciates
and supports the value that we can provide young people,
adults, and our elderly. he understands the spirit that recreation provides the soul. "
-elizabeth beard

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December 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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