Greening Greater Fulton

Historic Richmond Goes Green

In Richmond’s Fulton commercial district, three distinct neighborhoods and a team of passionate partners recently came together to create a green street. This project has not only reduced pollution entering the nearby James River, but it has also beautified the neighborhood, increased pedestrian safety, and created a vibrant community gathering space for residents to celebrate their community’s rich history.

Brought together through Richmond’s East End Green Infrastructure Collaborative, the Alliance has worked closely with Innovate Fulton since 2019 to make this green street a reality. A project team that includes the Alliance, Exact Stormwater Management, Innovate Fulton, GroundWork RVA, VHB, Community Engagement and Charette Associates, RVAH2O, and locally renowned artists Matt Lively, Tim Harper, and Hamilton Glass to bring the Greater Fulton community’s vision of a vibrant, safer, green business district to life.

5

interactive art installations created

6,850 sq. ft.

impervious surface removed

17%

stormwater runoff reduced

1,000+

native plants, trees, and shrubs planted

Revitalized Green Space and Art

With interactive art installations at the forefront, the partners have transformed two blocks of Government Road by installing green street elements, such as native plants and trees, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and educational signage. These improvements have been designed to reduce flooding and heat risks while simultaneously increasing neighborhood beautification and creating safer sidewalks for pedestrians.

Groundwork RVA and Innovate Fulton worked with the community in a hands-on learning approach toward planning, implementing, and maintaining the green infrastructure of this project. Ultimately, these efforts have increased community members’ green job readiness and the success of the green street.

“In a lot of projects, less now, but in the past, things like this were done for a community, and this is an example of things being done with the community. This is something really important in this day and age. It’s something that young people resonate with and it’s something that folks in the community resonate with. Here, there has been a real attempt step-by-step to make sure that folks in the community know what’s happening and see themselves reflected. I don’t know what’s going to happen in this community, but the mural and the art will be here for a long time and they are going to tell a story.”

– Rob Jones, Executive Director of Groundwork RVA

Creating A Stormwater-Friendly Art Plaza

A stained glass piece of art that says, "Fulton Hill" on an iron post installed amongst rain garden vegetation.

A bright blue sculpture with clouds and birds sits amongst plants in a newly planted rain garden.

A "What is a Rain Garden?" sign showing a cross section of a rain garden and how rain water flows through it.

Three people stand around a rain garden at the Fulton Greet Street.

Fulton Hill mural with bright colors and old fashioned business signage.

A miniature mock art sculpture with clouds, circles, and raindrops.

A stormwater-friendly art plaza featuring a sculpture created by Richmond artists, Matt Lively and Tim Harper, celebrates innovation, diversity, and creativity in the community and will serve as a gathering place for neighbors. Additionally, murals by Hamilton Glass have been painted on buildings throughout the project area to celebrate the neighborhood’s rich culture and create conversations through art.

All of these improvements can be seen as catalysts that increase the potential for new, neighbor-owned businesses to move into the area. Funding for this transformative project was provided by National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Altria, Luck Foundation, Richmond Department of Public Utilities, and Wetlands Watch.