City of Richmond and Comcast Partner to Beautify Byrd Park on Comcast Cares Day


Hundreds of Volunteers Expected as Part of Comcast’s Annual Nationwide Day of Service

WHAT:           Local volunteers, including City of Richmond and Comcast employees and their families and friends; the Mayor’s Participation, Action, and Communication Team (MPACT); Friends of Byrd Park, Clean City Commission, and Sierra Club – Fall of James chapter; and students from Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Union University, will beautify Byrd Park during Comcast’s 12th annual Comcast Cares Day. Volunteer activities will include planting and landscaping, cleaning and repairing the Ha’Penny Stage, clearing debris along the historic bridal path, cleaning alleys and sidewalks.

WHO:             City of Richmond and Comcast employees, their families and friends; other members of the local community.

WHEN:          Saturday, April 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
                       
WHERE:        Byrd Park (600 S. Boulevard)

ABOUT COMCAST CARES DAY:
April 27, 2013 will mark the 12th annual Comcast Cares Day, which has grown to be the largest single-day corporate volunteer effort in the country. Over the past 11 Comcast Cares Days, more than 437,000 Comcast employees and their families and friends have contributed more than 2.6 million hours of service at approximately 4,200 project sites across the nation. The Comcast Foundation also has given out more than $12 million in Comcast Cares Day grants over that period. This year, Comcast expects more than 70,000 volunteers to participate in more than 600 projects across the United States and, for the first time, in the United Kingdom. Comcast also anticipates reaching three million hours of service and more than 500,000 volunteers since the first Comcast Cares Day in 2001.

Local residents/groups interested in volunteering on Comcast Cares Day at Byrd Park can visit www.friendsofwilliambyrdpark.com or email friendsofwmbyrdpark@gmail.com.

Comcast has been committed to serving local communities since its founding 50 years ago. For more information on Comcast’s volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit www.comcast.com/community.


ABOUT BYRD PARK:
Byrd Park is a 287-acre park in Richmond and is one of the city’s most popular parks. Spread along both sides of The Boulevard and Blanton Avenue starting at the Columbus Statue you will find Fountain Lake, a self-lighted tennis complex for anytime play, and two softball fields. Sunbathing and pedal boat rides at Fountain Lake are popular in the summer, and a full-service concession building at the lakes offers snacks, lunch, restrooms and free Wi-Fi during the summer season.

Further south to the east of Blanton Avenue are Swan Lake, Sheilds Lake, the Round House, which can be used for small meetings, and the Vitacourse, an exercise trail popular year-round. At the southern end of Blanton Avenue are the park's historic World War I Carillon, the Dogwood Dell Amphitheater and Ha'Penny Stage, additional picnic shelters, a children's playground, and the popular Barker Field Dog Park.