Richmond is just over a year away from a new and improved Brown's Island.

Why it matters: The island will be closed for events for nearly a year, but when it reopens next fall, locals will have tons of new amenities to enjoy.

State of play: The Brown's Island improvement project has been in the works since 2018, but started moving full speed ahead earlier this year once city committees signed off on the design plans.

• Venture Richmond, which manages the city-owned park, announced last week that the island will close for events (including Friday Cheers) from mid-November 2025 until early October 2026.
• The Richmond Folk Festival and the Richmond Marathon will go on as usual this year and next, and access to portions of Brown's (and the T. Tyler Potterfield bridge) will remain open.

The $30 million improvement project is a public-private partnership, with $15 million coming from the city and Venture raising the rest.

Zoom in: Much of that budget will go to infrastructure and ecosystem improvements, and locals will get loads of fun stuff, too, including:

💦 A splash pad

🌳 Shade from trees and sun sails

🚽 Multiple permanent bathroom buildings and water fountains

♿️ ADA-accessible entrances and bathrooms

😎 Terraces overlooking the river and canal

🛶 Water access into the canal for possible paddleboating or water sports

🛝 Play areas for kids, including a slide and swings

🪑 Seating, including hammocks, benches and movable chairs

🗿 Public art pieces and more lighting

Fun fact: Around 1 million people (and 8,540 dogs) visit Brown's each year, Venture told Axios last year.

What's next: Construction is slated to begin later this year.

Go deeper

Henrico wants to turn the 1.3-mile stretch of Lakeside Avenue between Lewis Ginter and Bryan Park into the county's "Garden District," according to multiple reports.

Why it matters: The makeover could make a car-heavy corridor a pedestrian-friendly hub that slows traffic, boosts businesses and housing, and connects two of the area's most beloved green spaces.

Driving the news: County officials met with nearly 400 residents and business owners last week to discuss the future of Lakeside Avenue, per the RTD.

• The plan is in the early stages, but ideas include narrowing the roadway, adding bike lanes, planting trees and improving sidewalks.
• Other proposals: An archway entrance, a grocery store, more visible crosswalks and relocating the Lakeside Farmers Market to create a "town square" in that space.

Zoom in: Resident reactions were mixed.

• Some worried about property-owner pushback and making "Lakeside another Carytown," per the Henrico Citizen.
• Others called it a much-needed change that might address speeding drivers.

What's next: Henrico officials said a draft of the plan will be released next month, with a final version sent to the Planning Commission by fall 2026.

Share this story

🏥 Nearly 200 nursing homes in Virginia are suing Gov. Youngkin, alleging that he unconstitutionally vetoed $21 million in state Medicaid funding meant to help hire more nurses and aides. (Times-Dispatch)

⚡️ A State Corporation Commission hearing is underway in Richmond this week on Dominion Energy's proposal to raise customer bills by $21 a month, or 13%, over the next two years. (WTVR)

🏫 Henrico School Board will consider fixes for school overcrowding at its meeting next week, including boundary shifts and enrollment caps at schools like Freeman and Tucker High. (Henrico Citizen)

👀 Richmond received multiple proposals from developers interested in taking over the Intermediate Terminal Building. (BizSense)

🚰 State and local leaders — including Sen. Mark Warner, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Mayor Avula, and leadership from the counties and Tri-Cities — met this week to discuss regional water issues. (Times-Dispatch)

• Warner asked local leaders to come up with a regional water infrastructure plan and report back to him in a month.

Richmond is buzzing this weekend — from live trivia on a trolley, to carnival rides, big-name concerts and even a cat video festival.

Friday

🎡 A pop-up carnival will be in the Chesterfield Towne Center parking lot, nightly and all day on the weekends through Sept. 13. Admission is free, ride tickets are $1.50 each or $37 for an unlimited ride wristband.

Saturday

🐥 RVA Duck Race & Festival of Inclusion, benefiting the Autism Society of Central Virginia, is back at Brown's Island from 11am-4pm, with live music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.

🎤 Leon Bridges and Charley Crockett play Allianz Amphitheater. 7pm. Tickets start $85.

🛼 River City Roller Derby is on at the Richmond Convention Center against Chattanooga. 4:30pm. $15.

Sunday

🙀 There's a CatVideoFest at Ashland Theatre, which is basically a 75-minute compilation of adorable cat reels, with proceeds benefiting Alixs Fosters. 6pm. $13 for adults, $11 for kids.

Keep reading for more things to do, including "Pups in the Pool"

The average Virginian is not getting enough sleep, according to the latest Apple Watch data.

Why it matters: That probably explains why we're always tired.

By the numbers: Experts recommend between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night.

• Virginians are clocking in at about 6 hours 41 minutes and going to sleep just before midnight.

Some basic sleep hygiene tips:

• Keep your room cool.
• Reduce light exposure before bed but get bright light first thing in the morning.
• Don't look at the time when you wake up in the middle of the night.

Sabrina's thought bubble: I'm most definitely a phone-before-bed and middle-of-the-night-time-checker person.