On May 8th, 2026, I published a special report at The Lookout entitled, “Chimbo Playground patrons piqued by perplexing pétanque proliferation.” It details how and why the Department of Parks and Recreation suddenly and without warning bulldozed a bunch of Chimborazo Playground earlier this week to make more courts the obscure French bowling game favored by Les Boulefrogs Pétanque Club of Virginia, a long-running but small local club.
In the piece, I reported (emphasis mine):
City Council President and longtime 7th District representative Cynthia Newbille did not respond to a request for comment.
After publication, neighborhood organizers hoping to halt the controversial construction happened to encounter Newbille on the street in Church Hill. “[S]he assured us she is looking into it,” wrote Erika Stanley and Will Jordan-Cooley in an update to signatories to their Community for Chimbo Playground petition sent Friday evening.
Update (5/11/26): On Monday, Samuel Patterson, Newbille’s council liaison, responded to The Lookout’s multiple requests for comment over the weekend 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.”
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.)
In a Monday afternoon email, Patterson told The Lookout that the project had been paused.
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This has been The Cynthia Newbille “No Comment” Corner, a new recurring feature highlighting the press availability—or lack thereof—of the 7th District’s longtime councilmember. If you come across a “no response” or a “no comment” from Newbille or her office in a media report, please submit it for consideration to The Lookout. All submissions anonymous!
