Editor’s note: Welcome to the L’Affair Pétanque Liveblog, The Lookout’s breaking-news blotter for the ongoing land-use controversy at Chimborazo Playground. If you haven’t yet, please consider upgrading to keep independent journalism about your neighborhood free for all to read. Here’s how to submit tips, documents, correspondence, etc. with The Lookout for editorial consideration.—Dave.
Monday, May 11th
3:50pm: The Lookout sends a breaking-news bulletin, a first-ever addition to its regular weekly email schedule:
3:20pm: The Lookout publishes its third story on l‘affair pétanque:
3:00pm: CHA president Jake Naugle confirms to The Lookout that Newbille called him this morning and relayed that the project had been halted “until further notice.” He also said Newbille agreed to attend the organization’s upcoming membership meeting on May 19th.
1:40pm: In lieu of addressing specific follow-up questions, Patterson contacted The Lookout saying the project had been halted. He wrote:
Just letting you know that Councilwoman Newbille and Chris Frelke, the Director of Parks and Rec spoke with the President of the Church Association today and they will be attending the Church Hill Association meeting on the 19th. Also a Construction work Pause has been done for the project.
10:35am: Asked for clarification on whether Council President Newbille had any views of her own about the situation beyond the basic information presented in Jenkins’ statement, Patterson replied [sic]: “We just received an invite to the Church Hill Association meeting on the 19th. She has talked to Rec and parks. More information is forth coming-”
He did not address a request for confirmation that CCP organizers had made contact with Newbille on the street on Friday, at which point they say she told them she’d look into the matter.
He did not address a request for comment on the disappointment attendees of Sunday’s meeting expressed over Newbille’s lack of attendance, despite being invited by CCP organizers. (The Lookout has reviewed an email sent midday Saturday extending that invitation to both Newbille and longtime East Ender Mayor Danny Avula.)
10:20am: Sam Patterson, the Council Liaison to City Council President and longtime 7th District member Cynthia Newbille, responds to The Lookout’s multiple requests for comment by forwarding a statement previously provided to The Lookout by Tamara Jenkins, acting deputy director, public affairs in the Office of Strategic Communications & Civic Engagement.
“[O]n behalf of Councilwoman Newbille, she would like to thank you for your email regarding your concerns on Chimborazo Park,” wrote Patterson. “Please see the letter regarding the Petanque Courts.”
8:50am: A tipster notes that somebody has filed a report with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality about the project. It reads:
Reported Location Description:
This is in Chimborazo Playground. There is an existing blue basketball court, playground, and defunct bathroom facility. The new fields are under development. They appear to be land disturbance exceeding 2500 sf in a CBPA with no erosion and sediment control SCMs.
Reported Description of Incident:
Grading, clearing, and changes to onsite storm drainage for playground development in Chimborazo Playground, City of Richmond. Work involves creation of new petanque fields, replacing existing turf and drainage areas
The most recent Land Disturbance - Erosion & Sediment Control permit listed in the city’s online permit portal was issued in October 2025. A review of every permit issued in 2025 revealed none that pertain to work at Chimborazo Playground.
Sunday, May 10th
6:20pm: The Lookout publishes a report on Sunday’s meeting, its second story on l‘affair pétanque:
5:45pm: The Lookout publishes a video of Sunday’s meeting
Friday, May 8th
3pm: The Lookout publishes its initial report on the situation:
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