[va-richmond-general] Re: Ballpark and purple martins

This was considered and rejected previously about 4 years ago - concerns about 
parking, flooding and historic preservation, which have not changed, were the 
reason.


Wendy Ealding
Powhatan County


In a message dated 10/24/08 12:35:52 Eastern Daylight Time, 
jimvb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

 
 
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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