By Lisa Plotkin, PJ Library Coordinator, JCFR

Imagine the most convenient and easy way to socialize with other Jewish parents while your children play and connect together also?  Enter, PJ at the Park!  

Intended to serve as an easy way for all types of Jewish families in Richmond to meet up, strengthen or begin to build relationships, PJ Library RVA’s PJ at the Park initiative was launched in August 2024 at Mary Munford Elementary School’s shady and inviting playground. 

Since then, we have engaged about 40 families at PJ at the Park, and we look forward to continuing the fun. (See a few of the photos)

Thank you to the following PJ families for hosting so far: Shiri/Birnbaum, Dickinson, Krumbein/Cafasso, Landes, Simon.  Richmond offers a great public park system, and so far we have enjoyed Cheswick Park, Robious Landing Park, Maymont Farm, and Crump Park.  Many thanks to the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond for making PJ Library RVA possible!

We are looking for PJ families to host PJ at the Park pop ups all around town throughout the year.  The requirements are simple: parking, a bathroom, and an outdoor play space.  Host families help to invite other PJ families to join and show up at the event to welcome guests.  Parents can connect on the parent conversation level, and children can connect as they play.  It’s a great way to take a break from the office, typical play spaces, or the school day.  And who knows, you might make a new friend or two!

We hope you can join us on Nov. 16 for our next PJ at the Park, hosted by the Amione family.  Register here.
Contact Lisa at PJLibrary@JewishRichmond.org if you’d like to host PJ at the Park at your favorite local park!