Richmond is working on a comprehensive blueprint for city parks.

Why it matters: The plan will help steer the city's vision for parks for decades and help it prioritize where to put its resources now.

The big picture: Overall, Richmond's park system is in decent shape, at least when stacked against other cities. But some individual parks, plus whole swaths of the city, are in need of greenspace attention.

• So armed with American Rescue Plan funding, the city started working on its first park system master plan in a generation this summer.
• Their goal is to develop a plan that is equitable, environmentally sustainable and incorporates the ways locals use the park system, from sports and recreation to picnicking, playgrounds, summer camps and outdoor concerts.

Zoom in: The city is calling the initiative Richmond INSPIRE and working with Raleigh-based consultant team Design Workshop on developing the plan.

• They started by taking inventory and rating the city's existing parks, visiting all but 18 of the city's 148 parks and facilities.

What they found: 89% of city parks don't have adequate signage.

• 62% of city parks aren't accessible by sidewalk.
• 52% don't have enough shade.
• Fewer than half — 42% — make a good first impression.
• Only 16% of all parks and 4% of playgrounds are accessible to people with disabilities.

Meanwhile: South Richmond — the largest part of the city by acreage — has not only the fewest parks, but many of those are in the worst condition.

• They're the least accessible to get to by walking, which is considered the gold standard for park access.

What's next: The city wants to hear from you (for real) about your park usage hopes and dreams. You can share them through this online survey through Sept. 27.

Go deeper

Richmond has issued nearly $200,000 in fines and around 14,000 citations since turning on speed cameras near two elementary schools in March.

Why it matters: These cameras are operational only around the start and end of school, "so imagine what people are doing outside of those times," Mayor Stoney said this week.

Driving the news: In a Wednesday press conference, Stoney said the four speed cameras near Northside's Linwood Holton and Forest Hill's Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts are issuing a total of 70-plus tickets a day.

• That's down from the average of 176 speeding tickets RPD said it issued daily in April and similar to average of 76 in July.

Flashback: These cameras were the first part of the city's pilot program to make streets safer.

• More went live in August around nine more school zones, largely in South Richmond.

How it works: They're on between 7:15-9:15am and 2:15-4:15pm and flag drivers going at least 36 mph.

• The first violation is $50. After that, it's $100.

What's next: The cameras added last month start fining drivers on Sept. 18, when the 30-day grace period of issuing only warnings is over.

Keep reading for the schools Richmond wants to add cameras around next

🫗 Barrio restaurant in the Fan, which changed owners in November 2023, will close in the coming weeks. The owners hinted at a new concept taking its place. (Instagram)

🏘️ 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammel introduced legislation to lower the city's real estate tax rate from $1.20 per $100 to $1.16. (The Richmonder)

🎶 Fairfax artist Shaboozey received his first nominations from the Country Music Association awards this week for Best New Artist and Single of the Year for "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." (Rolling Stone)

• The CMAs air Nov. 20.

☃️ Richmond averaged 12.9 inches of snow a season over the entire 20th century. For the last five years it's been 2.8 inches. (The Richmonder)

This is for everyone who wants to spend one of the unluckiest days of the year permanently tattooing your body.

The big picture: Richmond's tattoo shops go all in for Friday the 13th by having deals or themed flash sheets (already drawn designs).

• The tattoo deals are mostly first come first serve and arms and legs only.

We've rounded a few of them up so you don't have to:

🐰 Black Rabbit near Carytown has flash designs from three artists that include a smiling pumpkin headstone. 11am-6pm. $75 to $130.

🔩 Loose Screw Tattoo on West Cary Street has a Spongebob Halloween Flash sale that includes an emo handsome Squidward. $75-$150. Appointments are recommended.

⛰️ Moving Mountains Tattoo Collective in the Arts District has slasher and Studio Ghibli-inspired designs starting at 1pm. $66.60-$130. Cash only.

Full list with five more spots

Earlier this week, we asked readers to guess where the "Bitch I'm a Bike" bike pic was taken.

🥳 Shoutout readers Eldon J. and Patricia L. for knowing it was on the corner of Helen's next to one of the best happy hours in town (3 Monkeys).

The latest: Sabrina is especially happy to announce that readers also shared what Axios Richmond's mascot should be.

• The responses were overwhelmingly … a possum.
• A close second was a squirrel but no one can replace Nutzy and Nutasha.

Fun fact: The Department of Wildlife Resources told Axios they vote specifically for the Virginia opossum, which is known for "their hustle and spiciness."

What's next: Having readers pick the name once the stork brings us our new baby marsupial from Amazon.