By Pooya Mohit, CPRV Civic League President
Monday, May 11, 2026 | 6:30–7:45 PM | Kingdom Embassy Ministries, Mayflower Road
It was an energetic and informative evening, with several community partners sharing updates that directly connect to the future of our neighborhoods, our business corridors, and the public spaces that tie them together.
Officer Dunthorn was joined by our new Community Resource Officer, Officer Briggs, who will likely be attending our meetings in place of Officer Dunthorn moving forward.
They provided the monthly public safety report and shared that most of the recent activity involved larcenies concentrated along the commercial corridor. The encouraging update was that the offenders connected to those incidents were already in custody.
We appreciate Officer Dunthorn’s continued service and presence in our community, and we look forward to getting to know Officer Briggs as he becomes more familiar with Colonial Place, Riverview, and our surrounding business corridors.
Having consistent communication with Norfolk Police is important for residents and businesses alike. It helps us stay informed, ask better questions, and continue building a neighborhood culture where safety is a shared priority.
One of the highlights of the meeting was welcoming Kaycee McCoy, Assistant Director of the Elizabeth River Trail, who gave an engaging update on what is shaping up to be a major year for the trail.
Kaycee shared more about the new Trailside Headquarters and encouraged residents to visit firsthand. The space is designed to be more than just an office. It is a public-facing hub for trail users, programming, community engagement, and education.
She also highlighted several major initiatives and events happening along the trail this year, including Give Local 757 Day, Sail 250, the debut of inclusive Spinclusion programming, and more than 100 events planned throughout the year.
As the Elizabeth River Trail approaches its 10-year anniversary this November, this is a meaningful moment to consider how much the trail has grown and how closely it connects to the future of our neighborhoods.
For Colonial Place and Riverview, the trail is not just a recreational amenity. It is a connector. It links neighborhoods, businesses, parks, waterways, and people. It also plays an increasingly important role in how residents and visitors experience Norfolk.
Following her presentation, Kaycee led a fun quiz where attendees won snacks and small giveaways, which brought a little extra energy to the room. A brief Q&A followed, giving residents the chance to ask questions and learn more about upcoming trail plans.
We were also joined by Ru Williams from the Elizabeth River Project, who shared details about an upcoming free flood-resilience seminar at the Ryan Resilience Lab on Colley Avenue.
The seminar will take place on Friday, May 22, from 5:30 PM to 7:15 PM and will feature City of Norfolk experts, UVA students, and other specialists who will discuss flood impacts, mitigation strategies, and practical resilience considerations.
For a community surrounded by water, this type of programming is especially relevant. Flood resilience is not some far-off policy topic for Colonial Place and Riverview. It affects our homes, streets, infrastructure, long-term property decisions, and the way we think about neighborhood planning.
Residents are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and take advantage of the expertise being brought into our own backyard.
A special note was also shared about Norfolk at Night outreach and the city’s ongoing LED Streetlight Conversion Program.
The City of Norfolk is working with Dominion Energy to explore streetlight conversions that are more energy efficient while also considering visibility, eye comfort, and impacts on animals and the surrounding environment.
After receiving initial community feedback, the city is now sharing its findings and collecting additional comments at two upcoming open houses:
May 19
Pretlow Library
5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
May 20
Lambert’s Point Community Center
5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Residents are encouraged to review the program and provide input.
Street Light Program Page:
www.norfolk.gov/StreetLightingProgram
Norfolk Street Lighting Survey:
www.norfolk.gov/StreetLightingSurvey
Streetlighting may sound like a small infrastructure detail, but it has a real impact on how a neighborhood feels at night. The right lighting can support visibility and safety while still being thoughtful about brightness, glare, energy use, and the character of our streets.
The meeting also included a final call for nominees for the upcoming CPRV officer elections on June 8.
No new nominees were presented, so as it currently stands, all current officers are running for reelection uncontested. The full slate of nominees and incumbents will be presented in the June 1 newsletter, and voting will take place at the June 8 meeting.
Civic leagues work best when residents stay engaged, participate in meetings, vote, volunteer, and share ideas. Whether serving as an officer, helping with a project, attending a meeting, or simply staying informed, every level of involvement helps keep the neighborhood moving forward.
The meeting closed with board updates and a reminder of how much is happening across Colonial Place, Riverview, Riverview Village, and the surrounding corridors.
From public safety to trail programming, flood resilience, streetlighting, and civic leadership, the May meeting reflected the kind of steady civic engagement that helps neighborhoods remain informed, connected, and forward-looking.
Thank you to Officer Dunthorn, Officer Briggs, Kaycee McCoy, Ru Williams, our board members, and everyone who attended, asked questions, and continues to take an active interest in our community.
As always, we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting and we love being your neighbor.
See the full meeting recap below.
