Revitalized Greenspace and public Art in Historic Richmond

Two blocks of a green street installed in the Greater Fulton neighborhood

Sculpture, created with the input from the Greater Fulton community, by Richmond artists Matt Lively and Tim Harper.

Greening Greater Fulton is complete! The Alliance worked closely with partners to implement a green street on Richmond’s Government Road, bringing the Greater Fulton community’s vision of a vibrant, safer, green business district to life. This project’s green infrastructure installations not only reduce pollution entering the nearby James River, but also beautify the neighborhood, increase pedestrian safety, and create a vibrant community gathering space for residents.

The project was developed in 2019 when Innovate Fulton approached the Alliance with a concept for a green street. Project partners spent several years engaging with the Greater Fulton community to design a project that utilizes green stormwater infrastructure to improve water quality in the James River and also creates a beautiful, greener public space.

Native plants are incorporated into a rain garden at the Fulton Hill marker, one of the historic neighborhoods making up Greater Fulton.

With public art at the forefront, the partners transformed two blocks of Government Road by installing green street elements such as native plants, street trees, rain gardens, permeable pavement and educational signage. A sculpture by local artist duo Lively Harper and murals painted by Hamilton Glass celebrate the neighborhood’s rich culture.. These improvements reduce flooding and urban heat while simultaneously increasing neighborhood beautification and creating safer sidewalks for pedestrians.

Permeable pavers in the public art plaza reduce stormwater runoff.

Educational signage is placed throughout the project area to explain the green infrastructure practices on site.

A mural by Hamilton Glass celebrating Montrose Heights, one of the historic neighborhoods that make up Greater Fulton

Green infrastructure practices, designed by VHB, were installed by Exact Stormwater Management and Groundwork RVA. Innovate Fulton and Groundwork RVA also worked with community members in a hands-on learning approach toward planning, implementing, and maintaining green infrastructure that will lead toward green job readiness and ensure the success of the green street.

Aerial view of the rain garden and permeable art plaza on the 4900 block of Government Road

All of these improvements can be seen as a catalyst to increase the potential for new, neighbor-owned businesses to move into the area. Thank you to our funders, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Altria, Luck Foundation, Richmond Department of Public Utilities, Ferguson LLC, and Wetlands Watch.

The Alliance is proud to be a part of such a transformative project creating a safer, green business district that provides pollution reductions, increases pedestrian safety, and creates a more vibrant gathering space for the Greater Fulton community.

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