Belle Isle Tensions at work
History of Belle Isle Discovered by John Smith in 1607 ● Old Dominion Iron and Nail company (first established thing on belle isle) ● After the war the Company continued to flourish, expanding its reach across the island ○ Virginia Powerplant ● The plant opened in 1904 and operated until 1967 ○ POW Camp, Union, confederates largest military prison ● One of the most notorious southern POW camps ○ Pollution ● In 1975 over 200,000 pounds of Kepone got into the James River and shut down fishing ○ for over 13 year Belle Isle has an incredibly high E. Coli concentration within it’s water ○ Ruins still there ● The ruins are thought to have archaeological potential, but none of them have been ○ tested
History of Belle Isle (cont.) Belle Isle becoming a park ● Belle Isle was formerly made into a park in 1973 ○ US National Historical site ● On February 1, 1995, Belle Isle was added to the National Register of Historic places as a ○ location that has “made a significant contribution to the broad patterns” of US history
Belle Isle Today Local Richmond Park ● Great for outdoor biking, hiking, rock climbing, swimming, running, ● kayak/paddle board 1989 clean up belle isle ( relocation of grave) ● trails ● Plan to expand belle isle ● Location in richmond (significance) ● Walk on bridge to belle isle (no cars on Island) ● Limited parking available on Tredegar Street ●
Belle Isle at Night Multiple deaths and attacks at night ● 2012: 21 year old man stabbed 30 times ● Police security beef up ○ Closed at sundown ○ 2015: Women reported through a “letter to the editor” that she saw Belle ● Isle covered in trash and empty bottles People go at night to drink away from law enforcement ○ 2016: Early September morning five people were attacked by a group of ● teenagers punching and throwing rocks at walkers,cyclists, and runners near the trails. One of the victims were even robbed ○
Vandalism at Belle Isle 2012 an article labeled: Top 10 Ways Richmonders Are Ruining the James , ● talked about how Belle Isle’s natural beauty was being ruined Talked about many points but provided pictures and strong words about graffiti and trash everywhere ○ His words on the graffiti: “I f you didn't have the guts to ask for permission then you are a coward. I have ○ spent many hours painting over graffiti on granite boulders and concrete structures in the JRPS. The efforts to preserve the natural and wild state of the James is compromised by cowardly graffiti vandals.” ~ Philip Riggan His words on litter: “This is another cowardly act. Truck in, truck out. If you have the guts to carry in a ○ case of beer (alcohol is not permitted in the park) then you should have the guts to take the empty cans and the carton back out.” ~ Philip Riggan Even visiting recently today there were graffiti on rocks that would be ● considered crude imagery and words rather than works of art
Whose Responsibility is it to Clean Up Belle Isle? ● Is it a National responsibility ( as a U.S. National Historical Site) or is it a Local responsibility (as a Richmond local Park)? ● If local, is it it a responsibility of the residence, police force, or local government? ● What’s a big event occurring now in the world that resembles the debate over responsibility we see here at Belle Isle?
Works Cited Belle Isle (JRPS) Retrieved from http://www.richmondoutside.com/destination/belle-isle-jrps/ Getting There Retrieved from http://www.jamesriverpark.org/visit-the-park/getting-there.php National Register of Historic Places Registration Form http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Richmond/127-0455_Belle_Isle_1995_Final_Nomination.pdf Belle Isle Kepone Spill http://www.hopewellnews.com/news/exec/view.pl?archive=5&num=3468
Works Cited Continued ... Riggan/Richmond.com, P. (n.d.). Top 10 Ways Richmonders Are Ruining the James. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.richmond.com/outdoors/james-river/article_eb80240f-80d7-590a-8aeb-d9713486584a.html?mode=image @. (n.d.). » Belle Isle (JRPS). Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://www.richmondoutside.com/destination/belle-isle-jrps/ H. (2016). Teens attack walkers, runners, and cyclists on Belle Isle. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://wtvr.com/2016/09/12/belle-isle-attacks/ @. (n.d.). Police beefing up patrols along Belle Isle at night. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://www.nbc12.com/story/17161849/police-beefing-up-patrols-along-belle-isle-atnight. (n.d.). Correspondent of the Day: Belle Isle has become a drunkfest. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://www.richmond.com/opinion/your-opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article_7ad75719-68ea- 5d5a-914e-34acd878329a.html
Works Cited Continued ... @. (n.d.). SLIDESHOW: Richmond Turns Industrial Ruins Into Recreational Opportunity. Retrieved September 26, 2016, from https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/richmondturns-industrial-ruins-into-recreation K. (2014). Belle Isle Exploration, Richmond, Virginia. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K5U1ESNtrg W. (2011). Belle Isle - Richmond, VA. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WABQp1_1VrE H. (2015). Hood trash vs Trailer trash fight at Belle Isle. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWIB59EpRhs 2 T. (2011). Belle Isle abandoned power plant - Richmond, Virginia. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnRt_W5F_jQ H. (2015). Summer Mix 2016 'Chill Out x Ambient Mix' // Summer Vibes Session [Free]. Retrieved September 27, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICEcolKLhZs
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