[va-richmond-general] Ballpark and purple martins

Did any of you see this morning's newspaper? It said that Richmond has
decided to go ahead with a plan to build a new stadium in Shockoe Bottom. It
would be bounded by Ambler St, Crane Street, Broad Street, 18th Street, and
Franklin Street. 

 

I find this plan unacceptable because it would destroy the 17th Street
Farmer's Market, and it would destroy the roosting grounds for the tens of
thousands of purple martins that converge in Richmond every August. This has
turned into one of Richmond's star attractions. Where would the martins go?
Would they go elsewhere? Or would they remain there, roosting in the roof of
the stadium and pooping all over the place nearby, as well as interfering
with baseball games being played there (easy flyout turns into bases-loaded
triple when the ball strikes a purple martin.).  It would be another case of
depriving a bird of its natural habitat.

 

Further, it would make a difficult parking situation impossible, when you
add maybe 2,000 or more parked vehicles to the area.

 

What can we do to preserve the martin's trees?

 

Jim Blowers

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