Trail lovers in Richmond have it good. Really good, and we know it.
I covered the first-ever Richmond Trail Forum for RichmondOutside.com. The crowd of more than 100 people was impressive, with more than 100 people in attendance and everyone seemed quite invested in the direction of the forum discussion. Continue reading
Filed under My life
I’ve fought many battles over cigarette butts in my lifetime. As a kid, I used to hound my father when he’d toss his into the yard when he’d finished. I’d gather them and bring them by the handful. He didn’t like it and I don’t think I ever changed his behavior much. My dislike for cigarette butt litter has not wavered over the years — in fact, I think it has gotten worse.
My passion for removing cigarette butts has lead me to many cleanups where I’ve gathered them by the hundreds in places like the James River Park, Bryan Park, at traffic stops (drivers are the worst) and even along Virginia Dare (N.C. Route 12) in the Outer Banks. I’ve been known to tweet the license plate number of an automobile when I see a driver toss a cigarette butt out the window. Continue reading
Filed under Urban Planning
My Why, Richmond, Why?!? column for the Richmond Times-Dispatch this past week was one of those that I have to revisit now and then. This is the beauty of having a column and a platform to express myself and my feelings toward something that I wish people considered to be more important than they apparently do. Continue reading
Filed under My life
My family was lucky enough to spend two weeks in the Outer Banks this summer — once in July and again in late August. We were lucky to have two fantastic weather weeks and great friends to join us.
But, it wasn’t all perfect. On our first trip, my wife and I biked about 80 miles, which we love to do on vacation. Each bike ride began in Nags Head around Mile 10 on NC12, the Virginia Dare Trail. The biking was great, but I was not happy with all of the roadside trash we saw throughout the neighborhoods and pathways between Kitty Hawk and Nags Head. I was disappointed, especially knowing that tourists like me were most likely to blame. Continue reading
Cover of the Recreational Plan: James River & Kanawha Canal
In early May 2015, I completed a four-year mission to earn my Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. I didn’t do it alone. I had help from my wife, Trish, and my children, Mitchell and Carly.
They allowed me the time to get his work done. I skipped some family events. Stayed home or on campus when I could have been doing more as a father. Continue reading
Filed under My life, Urban Planning
Volunteers with Richmond Community ToolBank, Oct. 18, 2014
I am on the board of directors for the Richmond Community ToolBank. We’ve been working for nearly three years to prepare the Richmond affiliate of ToolBank USA. Continue reading
Filed under My life, Nonprofits
I love picking up litter. Unfortunately, there is plenty of it to keep a guy like me busy. This morning, it only took 10 minutes to pick up trash at the Huguenot Bridge and along the James River and Kanawha Canal, which means I met the Trash Bucket Challenge passed to me by Henrico County Recreation & Parks. Continue reading
Filed under My life
Phil Riggan 