The curve of the James River and the steep slope leading to Libby Hill in Church Hill in the City of Richmond are quite remarkably similar to the curve of the River Thames and the steep slope leading to Richmond Hill in a royal village in western London called Richmond upon Thames.  In the 1730’s, William Byrd II, an important planter, merchant, politician and writer was asked by the Virginia House of Burgesses to plan a town at the Falls of the James.  Byrd spent a good portion of his life in London and often visited Richmond upon Thames, relishing the View from Richmond Hill.  The stunning similarity to the View from Libby Hill led him to name his newly-claimed town Richmond. 

While the incredible physical similarity of our hills and rivers has certainly impacted both communities of Richmond, it is just one example of the meaning of this stretch of the James, America’s Founding River.  These lands, from the turn at Rocketts Landing to the upstream falls at Belle Isle, are profoundly significant for Richmond, for Virginia and for America.  This is where Christopher Newport was forced to stop, essentially establishing the Richmond Region and ultimately America; where the canal system developed by George Washington started, significantly accelerating the commerce of Virginia and a new nation; where ships docked that transported hundreds of thousands of African slaves; where Abraham Lincoln entered the City of Richmond in 1865.

The supporters of the Riverfront Petition believe the future of the Richmond Region is directly linked to its historic and powerful past and harnessing that power is a critical element in creating a proud and unified community – emphasizing a vital common resource that adds to a higher quality of life for all Richmonders.

Harnessing the power of the past requires important landmarks and historic areas be conserved and preserved for all of the public’s enjoyment, forever.  Currently, certain historic lands along the most historic portion of the James River have either left the public domain, or are being considered as potential lands for private development.  These lands, running from the former Intermediate Terminal site to Mayo Island on the north side of the James in the City of Richmond are significant not only for the Richmond Region, but for the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Nation.

Richmond’s British namesake faced similar challenges, 100 plus years ago:  The panoramic view of the River Thames from Richmond Hill, often referred to as “The View”, has been celebrated in art and literature for hundreds of years.  In the 1890’s, this view was increasingly threatened by the march of suburbia creeping relentlessly up the Thames from London.  For the first time the loss of open space linked with the destruction of a cherished view inspired public protest, which was galvanized into one of the earliest and most successful environmental campaigns in history, and in 1902 “The Richmond Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act” was enacted and “The View”, the landscape on and below Richmond Hill stretching to the Thames, became the first and only view or vista to ever be protected in perpetuity by an Act of Parliament.  This “democratisation” of the Thames Landscape was celebrated in 2002, when an official delegation from Richmond Virginia traveled to our “twin” community Richmond upon Thames to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Preservation of the View, and the enormous pleasurable and economic benefits that foresight has provided the citizens of Richmond upon Thames, the City of London, and the entire United Kingdom.  The last words on the plaque dedicated in 2002 in Richmond upon Thames read:

 “Their example should inspire us to fight for what is worth saving for future generations.”

The supporters of the Riverfront Petition believe that our View, our River, and our Riverfront are extremely important for Richmonders, Virginians and Americans.  We intend to learn from the efforts of our fellow Richmonders to democratize the Thames Landscape and how to use the power of our past to shape our future.  Specifically, the Riverfront Petition has the following objectives:

• Generate overwhelming public interest throughout the Richmond Region and the Commonwealth of Virginia in restoring public ownership of the aforementioned land, as this historic portion of the James River is the public’s collective heritage and should always be held by the public, in perpetuity.
• Generate this overwhelming public interest quickly so the City of Richmond’s Riverfront Study can formally consider the opportunities inherent in public ownership of all this land.
• Raise the monies necessary to assist the City of Richmond and/or the Commonwealth of Virginia to purchase all of the aforementioned land.
• Establish on this land a multi-faceted riverfront park that in part honors the important people and events that have intersected this place, recognizing their impact on the history of the Richmond Region, the Commonwealth, and the Nation.
• Establish this park as the centerpiece of Richmond’s presentation of its uniquely powerful history, leading to a higher quality of life for all Richmonders.