Monroe Park Renovation The Rebirth of Richmond's Most Historic Park

Monroe Park is one of Richmond’s most culturally and environmentally significant open spaces. Once a state fairground and later a military encampment, the registered historic park now provides passage and respite to an ever increasing student body at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as well as residents of the surrounding Carver, Oregon Hill, and Fan neighborhoods.

Forming the western edge of the City’s downtown grid, Monroe Park is bounded by Belvidere Street to the east, Main Street to the south, and Laurel and Franklin Streets to the west and north, respectively. VCU’s recent expansion of the Business and Engineering Schools has significantly altered the context, use, and demographic makeup of the Park. Such a shift offers unprecedented opportunity for area stakeholders to transform the Park into a vibrant, urban oasis.

Embracing this opportunity, Park patrons and City officials have assembled the Monroe Park Advisory Committee, diverse consultant teams and, most recently, the Monroe Park Conservancy, to accomplish a dramatic rebirth of Richmond's oldest and most historic park.