ByrdPark.net’s One Year Anniversary
On April 8th, 2009, laid off Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter and Byrd Park resident, Tim V., posted four blog entries. One covered crime stats, another linked to the Civic League news letter, a third eulogized the Pepsi shed at Fountain Lake, and then there was this one:
We got a little ahead of ourselves and started posting before we were properly introduced. So here goes: Welcome to Byrd Park, the neighborhood site about … Byrd Park. We’re also keeping an eye on goings-on in Randolph and Maymont and anything else in the city that has an impact on our community. If you’re interested in getting involved, have news to share or want to contribute in other ways, please let us know.
The “us” that Tim spoke of was really just himself (with some tutelage from community blogger/teacher John Murden. But, thank goodness for his initiative. In an information age, communities need messengers spreading the word and bulletin boards on which to post relevant updates. It’s been a year that we’ve been able to gather ’round this water cooler and discuss neighborhood issues.* Tim had to move on to other endeavors, but the site lives on. We’ve set off some powder kegs, tended to some pesky problems, and there have been some dry spells too . Hopefully, in the next year this space will be grow into an even stronger fountain of information (more on that tomorrow). Thanks for tuning in and speaking up.
*We’re celebrating the birthday all week with a handful of hopefully invigorating posts. Also, a couple days early cuz the blog’s stats show that more people tune in on Tuesdays than Thursdays.
Congrats.
I’m still around and still reading! Glad we could join Richmond’s network of neighborhood news blogs. One topic I’d like to see explored is the housing market in the neighborhood. We keep hearing that banks have soured on Byrd Park and aren’t lending at even close to asking price. Any truth to that? Otherwise, keep up the good work!