Rotary Club of Hampton Roads Dedicates New Peace Park and Peace Pole in Norfolk, VA, USA.
Event Date: September 22, 2026
Posted Date: October 10, 20206
On September 22, 2026, the Rotary Club of Hampton Roads (RCHR) participated in the dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting for the new ERT Rotary Peace Park in Norfolk. The park was created in partnership with the Elizabeth River Trail and Norfolk Sister City Foundation using a District 7600 District Grant. The park is in the University Section on the Elizabeth River Trail, near Norfolk State University and Harbor Park on a previously vacant lot. RCHR volunteered to help build the “pocket park” with ERT several years ago, by planting trees, building raised garden beds, building a Free Little Library, and a Free Community Pantry. The St. James Holiness Church of Christ Disciples, which is located adjacent to the park, built a bench and grape arbor at the park.
In 2026, RCHR installed a Peace Pole and garden beds throughout the park. The Peace Pole carries the message of “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages. The languages that were chosen correspond to the languages of the Norfolk Sister Cities.
A sign at the park includes the Peace Pledge from the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, located on the Montana/Alberta, Canada border. The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park was created in 1932 by Rotarians from Alberta and Montana, uniting two adjacent national parks as a symbol of permanent peace, friendship, and goodwill between the U.S. and Canada.
Kindra Greene (ERT Exec. Dir), Pastor Jeremiah, KayCee McCoy (ERT Asst. Dir), Danielle (Rotary granddaughter), Councilman John “JP” Paige, Mina Barberis (Pres. Norfolk Sister City Assoc.), DGN David Rosenthal
The dedication began with Kindra Greene, the Executive Director of the Elizabeth River Trail welcoming everyone and providing the history of the park, and the efforts to bring the 28 neighborhoods along the Trail together for community good. Mina Barberis, President of the Norfolk Sister City Association described the Association’s goals of international peace, understanding, friendship, cultural exchange and cooperation among the people of Norfolk, Virginia, and its international sister cities. Norfolk Councilman John “JP” Paige welcomed everyone on behalf of the City and how excited Norfolk is to have this Peace Park. The remarks were continued by DGN David Rosenthal with a brief history of how Rotary and Peace are connected, and then he led the group in a recitation of the Waterton -Glacier Peace Pledge:
” In the name of all we hold sacred, we will not take up arms against each other. We will work for peace, maintain liberty, strive for freedom, and demand equal opportunities for all. May the long existing peace between our nations stimulate other peoples to follow this example”.
The dedication was concluded by the Pastor from the St. James Church blessing the park and all that it represents for peace.