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Urban Tilth and Groundwork Richmond report tree plantings, accessible garden plans and food-distribution programs
Summary
Groundwork Richmond said it is planning an Arbor Day planting and has planted replacement trees after vandalism; Urban Tilth provided updates on graywater installations, an ADA-accessible garden, distributed fruit-tree plantings and its VeggieRx program.
Groundwork Richmond executive director Lorena Castillo told the committee on July 9 that the organization is coordinating an Arbor Day planting (October) and is considering Crescent Park as a location. Groundwork said it has planted replacement trees at Lucas Park after vandalism and reported roughly $180,000 in expenditures to date with a remaining budget approaching $1 million.
Urban Tilth updates Tito Floriano of Urban Tilth presented multiple project updates: a basins-of-relations graywater and drip-irrigation program, an ADA-accessible garden planned for Unity Park (Sixteenth and Ohio), a distributed orchard program (Orchard for All) distributing 400 fruit trees annually, and a VeggieRx collaboration with Lifelong Medical.
Key project details provided - Graywater/drip installations: five systems recently installed (four drip systems, one laundry-to-landscape graywater system) with estimated annual water savings of 43,940 gallons. Urban Tilth reported $287,000 in expenditures to date for that program and a remaining budget around $1.3 million. - ADA-accessible garden: design plans submitted; comment period through July 28; expenditures reported $93,000 with a remaining budget of about $861,000. Architects have solicited contractor interest and comments are due on July 28. - Orchard for All: Urban Tilth said it had onboarded eight apprentices for a six-week training and distributed 672 pounds of fruit to the project area; total expenditures $173,000 and remaining budget just under $1 million. - VeggieRx: Urban Tilth reported climate-friendly-diet workshops and continued climate-health promoter training; $772,000 expended, about $2.4 million remaining.
Why it matters: Tree plantings and accessible garden infrastructure are visible neighborhood investments that support urban heat mitigation, access to green space, and food access programs tied to health providers.
Ending Both Groundwork Richmond and Urban Tilth asked for help with volunteer recruitment and outreach; Groundwork invited potential board applicants and Urban Tilth requested contractor interest for upcoming bids.
