Kate Sandy’s daughter will begin this fall as a VCU freshman living in a dorm. Sandy and her daughter live in the area and are looking into the possibility of commuting come next year, but with VCU’s most recent bout of construction, it may not be necessary... Read More

Need an escape from the noise and confusion of city living?  There’s a little known place tucked away in the Biotech Park that offers a quiet and safe place to think about the world and get some perspective. Attached to UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) is a beautifully designed park, The National Donor Memorial, a tribute to organ donors and their families.  It sits at the entrance to UNOS and is not easy to spot from the street, but there are detailed driving instructions at the memorial website and UNOS provides free parking.  For Jackson Ward residents and Biotech Park workers it is an easy walk.  The memorial is open 7 days a week, morning and evening hours.

By: Melissa Stephenson, Stephensonma@mymail.vcu.edu

Along with a new jail and plans to expand city roads, Mayor Dwight Jones also has serious renovation plans for Monroe Park.

There has been talk for a few years now about plans to renovate Monroe Park and to make it more inviting. Many people use the park for sports, leisure time and school activities. But for the homeless, it’s place to spend their daylight hours.

Local homeless man Bill Hill believes that the park will never actually be closed for any reason; he says “They keep talking about it but I don’t see them doing it because there are just too many homeless people. Where are they going to go?”