The Jewel of Richmond
Paul DiPasquale, accompanied by his dogs, kayaks in the James.
Somewhere between Ancarrow’s Landing and the Intermediate Terminal, there’s a big rock in the middle of the James River that’s perfectly situated as a diving board or fishing platform because the water all around it is deep.
It’s one of Paul DiPasquale’s favorite places on the river, and you can find him there many nights in his kayak or canoe with his two dogs.
Best known as the creator of Connecticut, the Indian statue at The Diamond, the Arthur Ashe statue on Monument Avenue and Neptune in Virginia Beach, DiPasquale said the city’s hills and its river are among its best attributes.
From his Fulton Hill neighborhood home, DiPasquale said he walks every day through his community or to Powhatan Hill with his dogs. “I look at it as visual relief – the hills of Richmond. I’m fond of taking out-of-town visitors to the various hills,” he said.
DiPasquale said he favors Richmond’s East End hills – not just Fulton, but also Libby, Chimborazo and Union.
“Those are just fabulous views of the James River Valley and of the city, especially when the sun is going down because it sets over that direction so you get that great vista,” he said.
DiPasquale spends a lot of time on the river and believes that it’s something that should be a priority for city leaders and residents.
“The river continues to be understood as what’s always called ‘the jewel of Richmond,’ but ... the city needs to focus on access and making parking available and trails,” he said.
“I would say that the summertime kayaking and rowing are really the best for me,” he said. “When the water clears up, I swim down there.”
Along those lines, “my favorite place to walk for beauty is Belle Island and the footbridge” near the Dominion office building.
He also said, “the Pump House over in Byrd Park is fabulous in its unpolished state. That’s a great place to tour, as are the various pump houses on Belle Isle. They’re great dog-walking sites.”
Another place that puts one close to the river is Legend Brewing Co., on the south side of the river.
“It’s not such a great view, but you get the sky and you get the swallows in the summertime or the swifts, whichever, or both, and the river – the sense of the river, the feel of the river,” he said. “It’s like when you’re near the ocean, you can feel the air being different. When you’re close to the river, you can feel that same thing [and] combined with the view, it’s just a great place to have a delicious beer and good hamburger.”
This article originally published in Discover Richmond. Click here to view more Discover articles, or send us an e-mail to request a copy of the magazine.
Please sign in to respond | | Register