Here's the plan: create a public arts park designed to be a cultural landmark that is free & open to the public & any artist who is here or visits Richmond. We believe this is at minimum 35 years overdue. Richmond constantly sells itself as an Arts City — it's time for them to put their money where their mouth is.

This ties in perfectly with Richmond’s Public Arts Master Plan & can set forth a new, broader Richmond that — we believe — will become a defining city of the East Coast. When people think of the Arts in the United States, they will come to think of Richmond.

A park with free, interactive walls that can be a place where a father takes his son on the weekend to paint something together. A girl scout group can make a design together & paint in order to earn a badge. A space where teens & young adults can hang out without getting into any trouble. A place where traveling international artists can spend a weekend. This will create an outdoor 3rd Place where all are welcome & the Art is constantly shifting & growing. A training ground for future muralists. A tourism & cultural destination.

The Location:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City after city, where a Public Arts Park has been constructed, time after time —the locales have seen a reduction in crime, vandalism, destruction of local businesses & homes, while also creating a funnel for new artists to emerge, careers to be made, & a public image that welcomes new blood & talent to come to the city.

According to Mural Arts Philadelphia's country wide study (muralarts.org), Richmond is #4 in the nation for Public Arts & other cities such as New York, California, Oregon, etc. recognize this. I ask this respectfully – why can’t we recognize this? This represents a categorical failure to capitalize. Artists don’t see Richmond as a place to prosper, but more so as a stepping stone. An exodus of talent for decades has been occurring & it’s time to create a destination.

Proofs of Concept:

San Diego, California​

Austin, Texas​

San Antonio, Texas​

Rapid City, South Dakota

We are proposing a Public Arts Park (to be officially named by the public) to be installed underneath the The Manchester Bridge, southside of the river & adjacent to the Flood Wall. Working alongside the architect Katie Cortez for over a year & four months now we have proposed this project to every single relevant department in the entire city. This includes:

Department of Public Works

Department of Public Utilities

Virginia Department of Transportation

Public Arts Commission

James River Park System

Planning Department

Richmond Tourism Board

Department of Parks

Recreation & Community Facilities

Richmond Police Department

City Council

Now, we need your help! You can be most helpful by signing this petition, staying tuned in through our social media on Instagram Little Giant Society& by respectfully reaching out to Parks & Recreation letting them know how great project like this will be!

What District Am I In?​

Council Members Contact Information

This is just the beginning & we have even more planned but you all come at a critical time! The city, despite enthusiastically wanting this project is creating minor, solvable reasons for this to not happen. It's time to build, it's time to improve, it's time to grow! With your help, we can make this a reality! We can solve these issues & create something truly special here.

Let the city know what you think! Let's make this happen!

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December 2024 Update!

Hello Richmond!

We are now almost at 1,600 signatures for this project. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank each of you that have donated to make sure this petition is visible & those that have signed the petition as well as gotten friends & family to sign. Quite a few of you have told me personally how many people you've gotten to sign the petition. I've also gotten word that there's at least two teams of two going around & gathering signatures. If that's you - please stop by SUPPLY at 320 W Broad St. one day so I can thank you directly!

I appreciate everyone's patience on this project & for checking in for updates. I'd be lying if I said this project hasn't truly tested my patience. Bull-headedness had me believing this park would exist already but the government often has other plans. Many of which involve not doing anything at all. Nonetheless, we persist! 

The team & I at Little Giant Society wanted to send everyone a massive update as to the happenings behind the scenes.

We've received some serious written endorsements for this project that all but assure the creation of this park.

First is Ellen Robertson, councilwoman of the 6th District. You all helped push this one through! After all, the park is going to be in the 6th District Manchester, so it's vital to have Ellen on board. She's been a major help & recently won her re-election on top of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A point of contention with the city since the start of this now 2 year long journey has been the safety & visibility of the proposed park area. Well, we've taken that issue off the table by receiving the written endorsement of the Richmond Police Department through Chief of Police Rick Edwards. This may be a point of contention for some of you, but this endorsement has come with the understanding that the park will never & can never be used as a way to prosecute people who attend the park. Devoid of actively committing a crime within the park, the park will truly be a sanctioned space. All are welcome without fear of prosecution. This is a big deal & I thank the Police Chief & his lieutenants, especially Police Captain Daniel Minton for hearing me out & loving this concept for the city.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hamilton Glass has been a warrior for the Arts in Richmond for longer than I've lived in Richmond. He's responsible for hundreds of murals, Mending Walls, teaching dozens of students, one of the heads of the multi-year running Richmond Mural Festival, & has been a friend for a long time. His endorsement for this park project is a sign that this will be a long-standing & successful project for years to come! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State Delegate Rae Cousins has come out with a glowing endorsement for the park. Our mission has reached the state level, can you believe it? Rae Cousins is a Democrat serving in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 79th District, which includes parts of Richmond City. She was elected in 2023 and is committed to advocating for working families and improving public education. After the city was giving me some nonsense about taxes, I took the issue to the top & ended up having a conversation about the future Art Park. Rae could not have been more accommodating & generous with her time. She asked poignant questions & has checked in multiple times about the status of the park. Thank you Rae!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last, but certainly not least, we have the spoken word of the newly elected mayor Danny Avula! Danny took personally one on one time with me to discuss the park, its impact, & how we could help while he was running for mayor. Mr. Avula has since then followed up, & gave a shout out to the park at the Arts & Cultural Mayoral Forum at The Repertory Theatre! While he has not written an endorsement, his team has contacted us while in the midst of his transition into mayorship about making this park happen. What better way to start his 4-year term than with a huge, transformational park? Definitely a bold way to set the tone of a new administration! We look forward to working with Danny Avula & wish him an extremely successful term. The sooner the current administration gets out, the better. Am I right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The road to getting this project has been tumultuous, confusing, convoluted, meandering, & at times extremely frustrating. From the onset, the goal was not to have a private park. One on some lot somewhere with part-time permission & the possibility of a private space being sold to some new developer & the park eventually being demolished (which has happened numerous times throughout the country). The goal from the beginning has been to make a public park in collaboration with the city as a fully sanctioned space where Artists of all varieties are ALWAYS welcome. That also means making the government pay for it. Well, it seems I’ve found a way to make that happen. There are a few other possibilities, but if this works - this would mean the entire park will be funded & construction begins next year. 

I have now officially applied for what’s called a ‘Non-Departmental Grant’ with the city. It’s an extensive application process that is as convoluted as most of the government bureaucracies seem to be. Some odd 18 attachments later, 5 separate multi-page write ups, wrestling with the IRS to make a non-profit, dozens of phone calls, & the incorrect grant submission form being sent to me… the application has been completed & sent off.

I ask you to send your energy to this being accepted! Again, there are other paths, but this is a big one! Together we’ve gotten this far & we’re going to see this through one way or another!

On the back end, our website is being made & the Non-profit 501(c)3 approval for Little Giant Society is pending & due to be approved in the next 2 weeks. You don’t want to know that process unless you’re asking for punishment.

There’s so much more to come on the near horizon! I’m kindly asking you all to keep pushing on the petition as it only adds to the odds of success. Can we get another big push & cross over 2,000 signatures? I think so! One million thank you's to all you & a billion blessings to everyone who is helping to make this a reality.

We'll also be doing a public vote on the official name of the park. Think of something good & it just may be the official name of the park!

Until next time!

Sincerely & Inherently,

Ian C. Hess

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May 2025 Update!

Hello Richmond!

It’s been a little while since the last update but we’ve got a good one for you! The petition is already coming up on 2,000 signatures (we just crossed 1,920 this morning) & your voices are being heard! The energy continues to rise for the project as do the official endorsements!

I’m very excited to share that two more council members have sent their written, signed endorsements!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathrine Jordan has been a very vocal proponent of this project for some time now. She also happens to be my council person of the 2nd District & has written a glowing endorsement for the park / the specific proposed location of the park! Kathrine is a massive advocate for the Arts in Richmond & consistently shows up for the occasion. Her endorsement will go a long way to completing this project!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reva M. Trammell has enthusiastically backed this project with a full-throated endorsement that’s everything we could possibly ask for from a council member! Even going as far as to urge Danny Avula to approve funding for this project! Reva is beyond stoked about this project & is going above & beyond to help push this through!

Perhaps most importantly — Ellen Robertson of the 6th District is working with Department of Public Works on a land-use agreement for our proposed park location! This is absolutely CRITICAL to whether this project happens or not! With this contract in place, Richmond will have its 1st Public Art Park. To be very specific — the current hold out is Department of Public Works under Bobby Vincent Jr. Bobby bobby.vincent@rva.gov — who understandably has a lot on his plate! Bobby has previously defaulted to Virginia Department of Transportation to pass the buck. Because of this we’ve now had a long conversation with VDOT & here’s their feedback:

VDOT's responsibility is to generally to provide high-level oversight of the project to ensure the proposed project meets the following requirements:
   -  The project does not negatively impact traffic.
   -  The project is not detrimental to the safety/integrity of the existing bridge structure.
   - No hazardous or combustible materials are used for the construction of the proposed Art walls, and that no hazardous or combustible materials are stored under the bridge.
   - Clearance requirements are met to inspect and maintain the bridge structure.
   - 15' of clearance is to be maintained around the proposed Art walls
Walls are to be located such that they would not disturb the existing bridge structure if they were to collapse or fall over.

The project scope, as proposed, has a minimal land use impact, and may not require VDOT permitting.

We’re very happy to say that all of these requirements have been met as part of the design & incorporated into the project!

With Bobby Vincent Jr. on board then Parks & Recreation under Christopher Frelke will be as well & then we’re off to the races! We’re looking to have a healthy relationship with the both of them & can’t wait to work with both departments!

We are announcing Little Giant Society’s 1st ever fundraiser for Richmond’s 1st Public Art Park! Next month on May 18th from 12 - 5pm at the legendary Veil Brewery in Scott’s Addition we will be hosting our little fundraiser! A collaboration with the magnanimous Matt Lively, who we’ve been working with to create a full-fledged miniature of the park to exemplify its design, will be there on display!

 

 

 

 

 

 

There will be 4 live Muralists creating custom pieces of Art throughout the show & 3 DJ’s spinning beats all day! There will be an interactive place to add your feedback to the park, a naming competition for the park, a special drink made for this day only, a chance to speak with prominent city officials, & an opportunity to join in with the thousands of people that have already shown their support for this project!

There’s only one way for this park to happen & it’s collectively creating a sustainable & prosperous Arts Community. We can build a transformative Art Park where all skill levels are welcome without fear of safety or persecution.

Sponsoring the event is of course The Veil — but also DawnStar Video Games, Wax Moon, & Atlantic Union Bank. This wouldn’t be possible without their help. If you run a business we are also looking for more sponsors & partnerships!

Additionally, our website is now live & is ready to be shared thanks to the volunteer efforts of Dan Dechiara! We’re also going to start getting some incredible features, updates, interactivity, & design feature that are great! You can also donate to or 501(c)3 Non-profit or volunteer to help make this dream a reality in Richmond!

www.littlegiantsociety.org

Lastly — to tease what comes next. We’ve got 2 more upcoming events to be announced including a secret special project that is also a Public Art piece that will be a COUNTRY-WIDE first! So much good stuff on the horizon!

Please continue to share this petition until we are across the finish line! Thank you to every single one of you! We sincerely hope to see you May18th from 12 - 5pm at The Veil in Scott’s Addition!