City of Richmond and Comcast Thank Volunteers for Participating in Annual Comcast Cares Day at Byrd Park
Hundreds of local volunteers, including Comcast employees and their families and friends along with representatives from the City of Richmond; 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, pitched in to help beautify Byrd Park on Saturday, April 27 as part of “Comcast Cares Day,” the company’s annual nationwide day of service.
“We appreciate Comcast and all the volunteers who donated their time and energy to help keep Byrd Park clean,” stated Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “Byrd Park is a significant landmark in Richmond with 200 acres of public green space that we want to celebrate and cherish year round.”
Volunteer projects included planting and landscaping, cleaning and repairing the Ha’Penny Stage, clearing debris along the historic bridal path and cleaning alleys and sidewalks. Volunteers also collected over 50 bags of trash, mulched over 60 trees, and replanted, mulched, and cleaned the entire Davis Street median near Byrd Park.
“At Comcast, we take great pride in giving back to our local communities, and we’re honored to join together on Comcast Cares Day to make a positive and lasting impact,” said Donna Rattley Washington, regional vice president of government and community affairs for Comcast. “I’m truly inspired by the many volunteers who donate their time each year to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Now in its 12th year, Comcast Cares Day has become the largest single day of corporate volunteering in the country. This year, more than 70,000 volunteers participated in more than 700 projects nationwide and, for the first time, internationally with projects hosted by NBCUniversal in England, France, Germany and New Zealand. Since the inception of Comcast Cares Day in 2001, more than 500,000 volunteers have contributed more than three million hours of service.
“From painting the Ha’Penny Stage, to improving the landscaping around the tennis courts and Roundhouse, to removing graffiti and stickers from signage, Comcast’s investments in Byrd Park shall be celebrated by the community for many years,” said 5th District Councilman Parker Agelasto.
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 the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $123 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at 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.