- June 2, 2021
- Minutes Approval
- Approved
- Treasurer’s Report
- Approved
- Huguenot Flatwater update: All funding is there. Needed sign-off from Councilmember Larson. September start date for construction to minimize impact on visitors.
- Bryce/JRPS Report, Visitation Numbers
- Superintendent position is now officially advertised
- Other part-time positions available
- Invasive plant coordinator: Needs to be applicator herbicide technician and have local plant knowledge. Up to $19/hr.
- Operations, seasonal: $12.50-13/hr.
- Summer camps happening mostly through community centers- Parks can host two of them. Small groups of 8 kids. Overnight bike ride in August: bike the Capital Trail, stay at Chickahominy Riverfront, and bike back.
- Cleanups Wednesdays & Saturdays.
- Invasive plant removal Fridays through HandsOn.
- This week is “Clean the Bay Week”- lots of different groups doing cleanups.
- Numbers: traffic and trail counters all around the park’s trail system. Trajectory has been climbing. 2020 was the busiest year ever for JRPS. 2021 is already ahead of pace by a big margin.
- 250,000 visitors in May this year: 871,832 people. That’s 30,000 more than last year. Talking to council members and coming up with ideas/suggestions.
- Master plan- enforcement. More presence is a necessity at some point. Park staff are not able to enforce.
- Limited parking does create some natural restrictions on the amount of people in the park system. No plans to increase parking. Walking and biking access will increase. Efforts are focused on developing more parks in the Southside and more greenways to disperse visitation and relieve JRPS.
- Fall Line Trail- north/south connector. Considering acquiring private lands.
- Pointing more people to Ancarrow’s Landing. It has more parking and other resources and is still on the river.
- Working with Parker Agelasto on potentially more private lands acquisition.
- Texas Beach tower is in need of repair
- Nickel Bridge / Pump House Dr. connection is almost complete
- Porta-potties: new contract with local company Capital Waste. Two new ones at Reedy and HFW, JROC-funded. Cleaned on Mondays and Fridays.
- At Reedy Creek HQ, native plant garden is coming together
- JROC identified a potential action item: Contact the Mayor’s office and 8th district Councilmember in support of parks-related development of a piece of city property listed in the Master Plan (past Ancarrow’s in the 8th district but not currently Parks property).
- VA Outdoor Foundation grant report updates:
- Some board members / execs have met to kick this grant off.
- First focus: bilingual signage- English and Spanish. Desire to reduce and consolidate signs; edit for clarity and impact.
- Efforts to meet with Hispanic adventure and fishing groups
- Other priorities: safety brochure and river-level signs at ramps. Pony Pasture one was recently spray painted and illegible.
- 14th St parking / floodwall updates:
- DPU placed boulders to prevent parking along the outside of the floodwall
- Floodwalls up for inspection by the Army Corps of Engineers; concerns about potential damage to them
- The surface parking lot is free on weekends and after 5pm on weekdays. Not guaranteed going forward, but the owner is open to having signage at the lot communicating the hours it’s available to the public. JROC can come up with wording for the signs.
- JROC identified another potential action item:
- Write a letter to ask DPU for clarification on their recent post
- Need for more egress space at the 14th St. ramp due to high use and sediment deposition.
- Potential solutions: expand the steps, create a terrace on the side that provides exclusive space for fishers and improved amenities for them.
- Discussion about another access point for paddlers near I-95 bridge is in the Master Plan.
- Come up with a list of engineering firms qualified to do 14th St. upgrades. Need to know the mean water level at that spot.
- Climbing Committee:
- Climbing stakeholders and community met this past month. Assessed Manchester Wall and Belle Isle routes; scouted Netherwood Quarry.
- Manchester Wall:
- Significant increase in traffic since T. Potts bridge was completed four years ago
- Wooden steps to the top of the wall need repair or replacement. Working with Park for how to manage. Potential plan to shut the stairs down to non-climbers / pedestrians. Safer both for them and climbers below. Include signage about where to go instead.
- Climbing guide industry and EMS still need access.
- Potential solutions:
- Updating the stairs to metal (est. cost: about $100,000)
- Repair them as is (wood) and secure the gate better- $1,300 for all new steps; does not include handrails, only steps and landings. Could start work in August and would take about a day- JROC volunteer project?
- Fundraising:
- VCU’s Climb-A-Thon; has benefitted Blue Sky Fund in the past.
- Peak Experiences climbing events could start benefiting JROC.
- Signage for Man Wall and Belle climbing through Access Fund. AF is excited about it and recommended we apply for a $10,000 grant for improving new climbing areas. Deadline is August 1 or Nov 10. August deadline preferred.
- Projects Committee:
- Last month at Wetlands- ripped up 100 ft of boardwalk, carried in wood. Park staff followed up for construction. Almost completely replaced at the boardwalk. 300’ total now in good shape.
- Successful Thursday project for Forest Hill Park to Riverside Dr. steps.
- Proposal to give away T-shirts stored at Pony Pasture to volunteers- motion approved.
- DEI Committee:
- Reached out to Valentine Museum about thoughts on diverse cultures’ histories to represent
- Projects
- Graffiti removal at Pipeline and Dry Rocks. Dry Rocks could use weekly removal.
- Overgrowth around Z Dam portage signs
- Also Discussed
- May 22-23 was National Boating Safety week. The Coast Guard Auxiliary came to Richmond to observe. Checked out Pony Pasture for a couple hours and mostly saw responsible/prepared paddlers: most had PFDs and helmets; 20% had whistles
- Request for them to visit during different windows for tubers- peak of summer and afternoon.
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