July 21, 2025
By Sierra Lopez
RICHMOND — Parks have the power to heal. That’s the belief inspiring a local nonprofit dedicated to breathing new life into Richmond’s historically underserved Iron Triangle neighborhood.
Named for the three lines of train tracks that form it, the Iron Triangle is a one-square-mile section of Richmond that has undergone some major changes over the decades thanks in large part to the work of Pogo Park, a nonprofit led by founder and Executive Director Toody Maher.
Their vision is big but their approach is simple: transform a neighborhood by bringing the community into the design and development process, strengthening the feeling of ownership and care for the park, Maher said.
“People want to take care of it because they feel like it’s theirs and it’s their responsibility,” Maher said.
Through the Pogo Park approach, community pride is sparked and trickles out to other parts of the neighborhood where residents begin their own planting and beautification projects, Maher said.
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