Community celebrates return of Battery Park

Tayvon Simpson, 17, sat on a stone wall in the blazing heat yesterday waiting for a three-on-three basketball game to get going.

People milled around him, celebrating a milestone many did not think would happen: the rededication of Battery Park in North Richmond.

"This park is important to me because there is a lot of history here," said Simpson, a junior at Richmond Technical Center. "Black history. Arthur Ashe used to play on the tennis courts."

Nearly three years ago, Tropical Storm Ernesto swept through, flooding the valleylike park with water and sewage. Snakes followed, so did rats. Then the city erected a chain-link fence around the park.

Simpson, who was used to playing basketball and hanging with friends in the park, "sat in the house miserable."

Residents and the city sparred over the time it was taking to reclaim the park, to restore the basketball and tennis courts, walkways and other amenities.

"There were some tough meetings. . . . but you stuck with us," said John R. Pope, Richmond's director of parks, recreation and community facilities.

Yesterday, the fighting memories were replaced with others.

"It's all about the new and we're creating new history today," said Clovia Lawrence, a host and community affairs director at Radio One Richmond.

Hundreds of residents, city officials and park aficionados gathered to recognize how a community and government can come together.

"When I was on the campaign trail, I heard more than I wanted to hear about what was going on in Battery Park," Mayor Dwight C. Jones said, "and today, to be able to come here to bring closure and to celebrate this wonderful accomplishment, is really an outstanding feat."

The festival was more than a ribbon-cutting. The event had basketball and tennis tournaments, games, crafts, live music and entertainment. There was also a chance for people to share their memories of this park.

"Today isn't about the bricks and mortar," said Chris Beschler, Richmond's public utilities director and acting chief administrative officer. "It's not about the concrete and steel. It's about the restoration of this historic treasure that we call Battery Park, he said. "Today's celebration embodies the indomitable spirit of. . . . the residents of this great community to see this project through to its end."

Ginnie Morrow, a member of Friends of Battery Park/Battery Park Civic Association, urged people to use the park, meet their neighbors and learn some history of the area.

One familiar face to generations: George Johnson, who for more than three decades has coached community football and basketball teams at Battery Park. He played here as a kid, and so did his kids.

"Now that we've got it back, everybody is happy," Johnson said.

That includes Tevin Brown, 10, a fourth-grader at the Elijah House Academy in Richmond. He came to watch basketball.

"It's just nice to see the park reopened after all the stuff that happened," Tevin said.

Contact Emily C. Dooley at (804) 649-6016 or .