T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge

There have been advocates for the creation of a dam walkway since before 2008, when city officials began to promote development initiatives along the river as part of their master planning process.

Ralph White, Richmond's naturalist (widely credited with the success of the James River Park System) was quoted as saying "The highest single priority is the completion of the VEPCO levee"[4] By 2011, other public advocates were meeting with City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development and the consultant team from the architecture firm Hargreaves Associates (the firm hired to execute downtown plans) to make the pedestrian walkway a reality.

[5] In November 2012, the City adopted the final version of the Richmond Riverfront Plan[6] that showed several renderings and maps of a redeveloped Dam Walk using a pedestrian bridge feature.

In January 2014, the city released new, detailed plans for the bridge, announcing that the walk would be 10 feet wide with at least four overlooks.

A resolution passed by the Planning Commission called the project one of the crowning achievements of Potterfield's career.