Mayor Jones is continuing his “green” efforts to help build Richmond a sustainable future. The Mayor will be hosting a community meeting, Thursday June 9, 2011, at Carillon Tower in Byrd Park, 1300 Blanton Avenue, from 6 to 8 p.m. All residents are strongly encouraged to attend. The City of Richmond will present work done to date on the Richmond Sustainability Plan and welcomes community feedback to assist in the next steps in the development of the plan. The plan focuses on economic development, environment, energy, transportation, open space and land use. Registration for this event begins at 5 p.m. on June 9, and light refreshments will be available. For more information on the City’s Sustainability Plan, please click here or email: rvagreen@richmondgov.com

WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones, City of Richmond WHAT: Removal of the asphalt from the Richmond African Burial Ground WHEN: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Richmond African Burial Ground at 1554 East Broad Street BACKGROUND: Earlier this month, Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced that three contractors have joined forces to donate services to the city of Richmond for the removal of the asphalt and gravel from Richmond's African Burial Ground. The city will officially take possession of the site on Monday, May 23, 2011. This event will mark the beginning of the asphalt and gravel removal from the 3.4-acre site. The asphalt and gravel that is presently covering the Burial Ground and use of the area as a parking lot has met with much public dissension over the last several years.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that three contractors have joined forces to donate services to the City for the removal of the asphalt and gravel from Richmond's African Burial Ground. J. E. Liesfeld Contractor, Inc., Dwight Snead Construction Company, and Ty's Hauling and Paving, Inc., have joined together to gift to the City the removal of the asphalt and gravel from the Burial Ground. The gift from the contractors represents $123,000 worth of work and is expected to commence later this month. “It is extremely generous of these contractors to want to take this step to support the city’s effort to honor and preserve Richmond's African Burial Ground,” said Mayor Jones. “I want to thank the NAACP for its efforts and in particular Joe Liesfeld for his role in bringing these contractors together for this project and I am recommending that Richmond City Council approve the acceptance of this gift.” The 3.4-acre parcel, currently owned by Virginia Commonwealth Universi...