Some Outdoor City Services Impacted

On Friday, July 17, the Department of Environmental Quality Air Quality Index (AQI) classifies the City of Richmond as “Very Unhealthy.”  

At this level, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.  

The City of Richmond has taken several steps to address today’s AQI:  

• All City of Richmond camp programming has been moved indoors for the day.  
• Outdoor city pools will also be closed today. Residents can access indoor swimming at Bellemede Community Center Pool (1800 Lynhaven Avenue, open Friday until 8 p.m.) and Swansboro Pool (3160 Midlothian Turnpike, open Friday until 8 p.m.).  
• The scheduled Festival of the Arts performance at Dogwood Dell (KOS BAND) has been cancelled. 
• Community center and Richmond Public Library hours remain unchanged. 
• The Salvation Army at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue will operate as a center for cooling and air quality relief from 2 p.m, on Friday, July 17th to 8 a.m. Saturday, July 18th and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. 
• Critical outdoor city services are continuing, with staff following the health guidelines corresponding to "Very Unhealthy" air quality. 
• Richmond Animal Care and Control reminds residents that air quality advisories for wildfire smoke apply directly to your pets. Keep dogs, cats, and outdoor animals indoors, limiting time outside to brief bathroom breaks. Avoid all prolonged outdoor exercise. Flat-faced breeds like pugs and bulldogs, birds, and pets with pre-existing conditions are highly susceptible to respiratory distress. 

For the most updated information related to Richmond’s Air Quality, please visit the DEQ Air Quality Index page.  

For ongoing impacts to City services, please visit go.rva.gov/weather.  

Project begins phase two of the City's Shockoe Project

Richmond, VA  — Community and government leaders representing the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, and Shockoe Legacy Foundation gathered on Wednesday morning to celebrate the launch of the Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Pavilion project, officially beginning phase two of the City’s Shockoe Project.  

“As I look at the [Shockoe] project overall, I think of a quilt” said City Council President and Shockoe Legacy Foundation Vice President Cynthia Newbille . “The quilt will give us this centerpiece—the Lumpkin’s Slave Jail, the Mary Lumpkin Event Lawn, the African Burial Ground, the National Memorial of the Winfree Cottage, the Slave Trail and the National Slavery Museum. If you think of all those parts and pieces as a quilt in our community, that really allows us to tell the whole story, the whole truth.” 

The Lumpkin’s Slave Jail pavilion archaeological and educational center will sit on the site of the historic Lumpkin’s Slave Jail, once the largest slaveholding facility in Richmond, where enslaved people were kept before being sold. 

Site excavation will reveal foundations of the original jail sitting about 15 feet below ground and a new brick-clad pavilion will sit over the site, offering protection and space for reflection and remembrance, shared Burt Pinnock, Principal Architect at Baskervill , the lead architectural firm behind the project.  

“This is what the Shockoe Project is all about,” said Richmond Mayor Danny Avula . “It is an invitation for people to face our history honestly, not to dwell in the past, but to understand it and to learn from it. We want to take this whole area that was central the story of enslavement in America and we want to turn it into a place for education and remembrance and engagement.” 

In his remarks, the Mayor shared a brief history of the site. From the brutality which earned it the moniker the “Devil’s Half-Acre" into a seminary for newly freed Black Americans, which would eventually become today’s Virginia Union University, this place of unspeakable tragedy has transformed and continues to transform into one of remembrance and redemption.  

“The pursuit of justice did not end with emancipation,” shared Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones . “It continues with our committed preservation of history; protecting sacred burial grounds and recognizing the lives and contributions of those who stories are far too often overlooked.” 

A recording of Wednesday’s event is available on the  City of Richmond YouTube channel .  

About The Shockoe Project

The Shockoe Project will create a comprehensive, experiential destination that places Richmond at the center of the American story by recognizing the history of enslaved and free Africans and people of African descent. Anticipated components of The Shockoe Project include the Shockoe Institute, National Slavery Museum, Lumpkin’s Slave Jail, Mary Lumpkin Event Lawn, the African Burial Ground, National Memorial, as well as the Winfree Cottage, the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground and the Trail of the Enslaved.

About The Shockoe Legacy Foundation

The Shockoe Legacy Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and promoting the history of Shockoe as one of the nation's most significant sites associated with the domestic slave trade. The Foundation works in partnership with the City of Richmond and numerous community organizations to advance the implementation of the Shockoe Project and develop educational and commemorative spaces that honor those impacted by slavery while fostering healing, education, and reconciliation.

The City of Richmond is taking another significant step toward reconnecting residents with the James River. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, in partnership with the Department of Public Utilities, has begun the next phase of the Mayo Island restoration project. Demolition Services, Inc began site preparations for demolition work on Monday, July 6, clearing the way for the island's transformation into a vibrant Natural Area Park that celebrates both Richmond's natural beauty and its rich history.

The project will remove aging buildings and deteriorated infrastructure that have long limited public use of the island. Construction is expected to continue through October 2026 and includes further demolition, site cleanup, stabilization, and preparation for future park improvements.

When complete, Mayo Island will offer a renewed connection to the James River through thoughtfully designed walking trails, expansive green spaces, and restored native landscapes that support healthier soil, wildlife habitat, and the river's ecosystem. The project reflects the City's ongoing commitment to preserving natural resources while creating more opportunities for residents and visitors to experience one of Richmond's most remarkable riverfront destinations.

"This work is about more than removing old structures; it's about restoring a treasured public space for future generations," said Nissa Richardson, Deputy Director of Capital Projects for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. "Mayo Island has incredible potential to become a place where nature, recreation, and Richmond's history come together."

For the safety of construction crews and the public, Mayo Island will remain closed throughout the demolition and restoration process. The City will continue to provide updates as work progresses and additional project milestones are reached.

The transformation of Mayo Island represents a long-term investment in Richmond's parks, waterways, and quality of life, creating a destination that honors the island's past while welcoming its future.