Henry L. Marsh III Elementary School, named after former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, one of Richmond’s African-American political trailblazers, opened two years ago at 813 N. 28th St.

Mr. Marsh, a retired civil rights attorney, was Richmond’s first African-American mayor from March 1977 to June 1982, and attended George Mason Elementary, the old school at 813 N. 28th St. He toured the new school shortly before it opened in August 2020.

“This is what I always wanted for our young people because they have so much potential,” Sen. Marsh told the Richmond Free Press when visiting the new $40 million facility. “This is a great feeling to tour my namesake school. This is one of the most important things we can do because, in the future, one of the children entering Marsh Elementary may become president, governor or ambassador.”

On Thursday, Aug. 18, the school celebrated an equally important new feature with the completion of the Marsh Elementary playground.

Several officials representing Richmond Public Schools and the City of Richmond attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the colorful new playground filled with irresistible play stations designed for gliding, sliding and tons of fun. So much so that Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Superintendent Jason Kamras could not resist taking a turn on the sliding equipment.