RTD columnist suggests renaming Boulevard for Arthur Ashe
Columnist Michael Paul Williams says the city should consider renaming the thoroughfare for the Richmond tennis legend.
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
With all the recent talk that we should be adding to history instead of tearing it down, we have an opportunity in Richmond.
Arthur Ashe would have celebrated his 72nd birthday four days ago, but his presence within the city of his birth remains low-key. His statue, erected on Monument Avenue in 1996, is dwarfed by Confederate memorials. Battery Park tennis courts were renamed in his honor in 1998.
It’s a reasonable idea and one that wouldn’t be that hard to implement. After all, the tennis courts Ashe played on are at the southern terminus of the road; the Arthur Ashe Center sits along the road to the north. Plus, the road isn’t named anything significant as it is right now. Why not?
Read more from the RTD’s Michael Paul Williams.
Photo: AAroads.com
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Trevor Dickerson
Trevor Dickerson loves all things Richmond and manages RVANews’ West of the Boulevard and West End community sites.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Great, if not new, idea! Can we get it done before the UCI Road World Championships? Step on it!
Change the name? Sure. Why not? But let’s recognize another Richmond legend, maybe someone who doesn’t already have a monument. Spread out the recognition a bit. Maybe Maggie Walker or Elizabeth Van Lew. Not that Ashe wasn’t a great man, but there are other legends worth recognizing as well.
I’m not saying not to do it, but it is not as easy as putting up new signs. All the residents and businesses along this corridor will need to change their addresses with all of the utility companies and any other bills they may get. Businesses would need to change stationary, business cards, etc. There are more things to consider than simply renaming the road.