Green flyer for Ghent Neighborhood League's meeting about green space improvements, featuring trees and a bench illustration.

Ghent’s first Green Spaces Quarterly Meeting info.

On Wednesday, July 30th we held a meeting regarding Ghent’s green spaces. City officials were invited and we had a great showing of about 50 people. Our two City Council Reps, the head of Parks and Rec and many other city reps were in attendance, for which we are very grateful. This was an initial meeting to get a dialog started between the GNL and the city regarding what many see as Ghent’s neglected public spaces. It is true that this is a citywide problem, but as the GNL our focus is naturally our neighborhood.

The meeting was very informative and our hope is that this will jump start a more careful approach to caring for Ghent’s public areas, and an understanding from the city that this care is not a luxury but a necessity for our community and any Norfolk community.

While we have a lot of work to do, we are hopeful our concerns will be addressed and in a timely fashion. The next meeting will be Wednesday October 22nd at 6PM at Fred Heutte Garden. This next meeting will focus on specific issues and how to solve them, including hydration for plantings, a regular weed and mulch schedule and creating plans for our spaces. Again, as our team travels we are always surprised at how other cities take care of their green spaces and seem to understand how important well kept and updated green spaces are for community well being. Creating social capital through amenity filled parks is not new, but our country is taking this lesson to heart. It’s time Norfolk did too.

Below is the Slideshow shared at the meeting. We invite you to email us with any questions (admin@ghentneighborhoodleague.org)

A sign that says 'Welcome' with the logos of the Ghent Neighborhood League and the city of Norfolk.

Below is a sampling of complaints Board members of the GNL have received. These complaints arrive via email, social media and through conversation.

A poem or message about Ghent, criticizing the state of the park and city, mentioning overgrown weeds, fallen fences, and neglected trees, with questions about planting and maintenance issues.

The Trust for Public Land is a trusted resource for information about US public green spaces. The City of Norfolk hired the Trust for Public Land to examine our park system and suggest improvements in 2004. That study is quoted later in this presentation. It appears none of the recommendations were adopted, and Norfolk’s green spaces are in much worse shape than they were 20 years ago.

The graph below is current.

A chart displaying trust scores for public land in Virginia, with data organized by place name, showing scores for access, acreage, amenities, equity, and investment, visualized with colored dots and a total score. The chart is titled 'Current Trust for public land data' and features filters for state, city, city density, and population.

Norfolk is in the bottom 10% of per capita funding for public green spaces nationwide. This figure relates to the upkeep of existing green spaces, not new projects. This is an allocation issue primarily, despite protestations from a city elected official to the contrary. Having an inept system in place for hiring and the spending of funding does not mean more funding isn’t needed. It means an overhaul in hiring and oversight is needed and our city should at the very least work to find parity with our neighbors. Virginia Beach and Chesapeake spend twice as much per capita as Norfolk on public green spaces and it shows. Surrounding communities do not appear to have difficulty finding landscape maintenance workers and specialists.

Text discussing Norfolk's park system investment, comparing local spending to national averages, highlighting a ranking of counties based on spending, and emphasizing current per capita park spending of $68, which is less than half the national average.

Meanwhile, Norfolk announces very expensive community centers that fall under the Parks and Rec umbrella. If there is money to fund 65 million dollar rec centers with lazy rivers and state of the art libraries (and make no mistake, we love libraries and other community amenities), where is the funding for watering trucks (Norfolk used to have five in operation-now it has none), new plantings in public spaces (haven’t seen those in years as blank spots grow and tree canopy disappears), and regular mulching and weeding. Where is the proper, thoughtful, well trained green space maintenance? The cost of these expected and needed efforts pales in comparison to the large building projects, and proper implementation of these efforts would positively affect all of Norfolk, for residents and visitors alike.

A flyer announcing Norfolk mayor's plans for the Military Circle library and fitness center, featuring the project details, amenities, and funding assessment.

Text on a pale yellow background comparing project conflict growth since 2004, quoting a 2004 report about diverse missions of a department, with bolded statement in the center reading 'This project conflict has only grown since 2004.'

Because Parks and Rec wears so many hats (Cultural facilities, Libraries, Nauticus and the zoo, etc.) It seems that basic maintenance has been forgotten. In particular since Covid. This interdepartmental competition between projects seems to mean the less glamorous efforts are almost completely overlooked. Unfortunately, this situation has created a Norfolk that looks embarrassingly unkempt and unmaintained. First impressions are important, and well maintained public space is important to community stakeholders for myriad reasons, including health and safety, public morale and aesthetics.

A table showing data on city government departments and cultural facilities, with a red arrow pointing to 'Parks, Recreation and Culture' and another red arrow pointing to 'Parks and Recreation' under the cultural facilities section.

This brochure was found at the Architectural Review Board Office. A major refreshing of Colley Avenue was planned for the early 2000s, including placing overhead wires underground, new, historically accurate signage, landscaping, large planters, new streetlights, and more. A brochure was printed, major players were named, a groundbreaking event was planned and then nothing happened………

A detailed informational sign about the planning and development of 21st Street and Colley Avenue in Norfolk, including sections on street and traffic signs, site furnishings, paving and planting areas, tree and tree life support system, section on root growth in soil, and overhead wires, with illustrations of trees and infrastructure.

It’s no secret that Norfolk’s population has been dropping yearly for decades. While it would be simple to suggest that the way Norfolk looks, the aesthetics of its public face, are the reason, it is part of a larger issue, for sure. Nonetheless, the way a community looks is very important to its overall impression. Every day thousands of people come to work at our largest employers, Sentara Norfolk General, and the Department of Defense, and every day those employees leave to go home to Virginia Beach or Chesapeake. When people look around and see weedy, unkempt chaos it’s only natural for them to wonder ‘If this city doesn't care about something so simple to fix, what do they care about?……..’

A graph showing Norfolk population growth from 1800 to 2023, with a significant rise around 1900, peaking between 1950 and 1960, then declining slightly. The right side features a fact box with Norfolk city population data in 2022 and 2023, comparing it to Virginia and Richmond populations, with a paragraph explaining population changes from 2010 to 2022.

In this quote from the 2004 Trust for Public Land Report for Norfolk, the goal is a better park and public space system that supports its citizens, creates safe third spaces and reflects the potential Norfolk has to be a green space leader. None of the suggestions in the report were adopted by the city.

Text excerpt from a report discussing Norfolk's management of parks and citizen activism, dated 2004.

A small collage of the constant daily reminders that Ghent is being overlooked by the city. Broken, damaged bollards an eyesore on Llewellyn and Olney, trash in the Hague constantly, weeds in every planted bed, plants missing and not replaced.

Collage of five outdoor scenes: a parking lot with a bollard, a polluted waterway with floating trash, a sidewalk near a park with a railing, a patch of green plants and ivy, and a waterfront park path with bushes and trees.

Olney Rd. used to be one of the loveliest Boulevards in Norfolk, connecting the Chrysler Museum and Norfolk General (both visited by thousands weekly). Now it is bare, unmulched, the trees are in terrible condition, no new plants have been filled in in years. Stone Garden Park, one of the sections of Stockley Gardens, used to be beautifully planted and maintained by the city. Now it is a weed and litter patch. The expense to replant and maintain these important areas in Ghent, which are highly visible to our city visitors, would be minimal. But nope, they continue to look blighted and ignored.

Three photos: left shows a park with trees and a bench on a paved area; middle depicts a bride and groom in wedding attire standing in front of a dark brick church with a cross, holding a bouquet; right displays a patch of grass and small plants on uneven ground.

Blair Middle School appears to have a homeless encampment. The city has been made aware of this.

Backyard scene with trees, bushes, and a wooden fence, showing discarded items like a tarp, a skateboard, and a broken chair. Overgrown plants and a brick wall are visible.

Our project mascot, the seven foot weed on Olney Rd. The sorry condition of Stone Garden Park. Again, little investment, huge payoff to bring these spaces back to their former standards of care.

Split view of two sidewalk scenes: left side shows a sunny street with a pedestrian crossing sign, trees, and flowers; right side shows a paved walkway with a decorative stone railing, grassy patches, and buildings in the background.

A community member has taken it upon himself to drill into ancient live oaks to create an unsafe playground for children. While we applaud his ingenuity, no individual citizen has the right to materially change public property. Period. (Update-materials removed on 8/7/2025)

Photos of playground equipment on Graydon Avenue, including a tree with a climbing rope and a swing. The scene shows residential houses and parked cars in the background.

Of course this isn’t just happening in Ghent. Our prime time thoroughfare from the highway through downtown down Waterside Drive is a messy weed patch. No mulch, diseased plants, impressive weeds.

Side-by-side view of an urban scene. The left shows a building with a large blue GEICO sign, a crosswalk, pink flower planters, and large white decorative letters "W." The right shows a bordered area with a tall tree, a black metal fence, a sidewalk, and some cars in the distance. Both scenes are under a clear blue sky.

Community volunteers at Stone Garden Park. We have been trying to get the city to turn on the water there for two years. New plants will not survive without hydration during our hot seasons, especially with wind blowing off the water. We are hopeful the city will come up with a plan for hydration in time for Spring 2026. We have a professional plan and a grant proposal in place (but not yet submitted) but we can’t move without water. And a postcard of what Stockley Gardens used to look like. Healthy, beautiful, well planted, attractive walkways.

A photo of a woman and a man standing in a grassy park, smiling, with trees and a building in the background. The woman is holding a water bottle and a notebook, wearing a cap, t-shirt, and shorts. The man is wearing a wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirt. The second photo shows a vintage postcard with a scene of trees and a pathway at Stockley Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia.

Parks without amenities are just walk through spaces. A place to rest, a place to get a drink of water, a picnic table to eat outdoors, hydration for plants and pups and other things are what make parks sing. To create community you must have a reason to linger in a park, be it playground equipment, athletic space or leisure space. Ghent has very little reason to linger in its green spaces. Opportunity lost.

A green-themed poster with the text 'Parks aren't parks without amenities' and 'Ghent' in the center. The poster features various park amenities including a disc golf basket, a waste station, a tree planter, a person sitting in a meditation pose, a bench, a miniature golf game, a picnic table, a water fountain, and a drinking fountain.

The city of Norfolk used to have five operating watering trucks. It has had zero for years. We have been told the funding to repair or replace the trucks has actually been in the budget and gone unused. You cannot plant new plants in most city real estate without access to water, which isn’t available in most verges, any boulevard centers and many pocket parks. This is why we have seen zero replanting of diseased or dead plants. We have seen zero trees being replaced. You must have access to hydration before you plant. The GNL received a $7500 grant to plant Mowbray Arch, which was done with a large volunteer force from Norfolk Master Gardeners and the GNL. 90% of the plants died due to drought thanks to no access to water.

A water tanker truck is crossed out with a brown circle and slash, indicating no watering trucks are allowed.

Additional information concerning the need for water trucks.

A white water truck parked on an unpaved area with a rocky backdrop, used for city water management and environmental purposes.

Text on a white background explaining that Ghent does not have a large public park, community or rec center, or large sports venues, and mentioning its small Library Branch. It also states Ghent has few financial demands on the city for a stable tax base.

A list of urgent community needs including plans for green space, implementation, public calendar, hydration, amenities, new plants, infrastructure repair, and tree replacement.

A presentation slide titled 'Next Steps' with bullet points listing upcoming actions regarding green space meetings, city communication, and membership discussions.

We will be speaking out at City Council meetings moving forward. Below is the most current online list of the city’s parks and rec projects. There is nothing listed for Ghent, including the repairs to the Hague Seawall. And excepting the seawall, which is dangerous and drastically damaged, we have no requests for major projects. We just want our already existing green spaces, with their great bones and potential, rehabbed and better maintained. Playing whack-a-mole with chaos is no way to spend taxpayers money. We request sustained, thoughtful maintenance and amenity filled parks. We request that for all of Norfolk. This is not a major project issue, it is a maintenance issue.

A table listing various community development projects, including project names, descriptions, current statuses, projected completion dates, and budgets.

Details about Norfolk City Council meetings including schedule, registration, and agenda posting information.

We have a corps group of willing volunteers who are eager to make Ghent Beautiful. Through our monthly cleanups, the Van Wyck Project, the Blueberry Lab and plans for Stockley Gardens and Stone Garden Park we have indicated extreme willingness to jump in and volunteer.

Collage of people volunteering outdoors in a community cleanup, some wearing safety vests, others planting, pruning, or posing for photos, with trees, buildings, and clear skies in the background.

Group of people wearing safety vests and gloves picking up litter during community cleanup on a sidewalk in a neighborhood, with trees and houses in the background.

A list of resource links related to Norfolk City government, including trust for public land, parks and recreation, elected officials, mayor's office, and city council representatives, on a light green background.