- Minutes Approval
- Approved
- Treasurer’s Report
- Approved
- Huguenot Update: Happening this year! Breaking ground for just under $500,000. August and Sept average river level is the same, so aiming for Sept. construction to decrease impact on visitors
- Bryce/JRPS Report, Visitation Numbers
- Will be hiring new super of JRPS; official position posting is in progress
- 2.1 million visitors in 2020. Pony Pasture is the most-visited park during summer.
- Riverrock happening next weekend in FHP with races and activations- pop-up events throughout park system (running and mtb)
- Projects:
- Continually working to manage grass ‘n’ trash in the park
- Seasonal staff hired
- Texas Beach tower
- Pump House Drive to Nickel Bridge trail opening soon
- City is buying the 5-acre parcel near Great Shiplock Park. Capital Region Land Conservancy accepting donations to help with closing costs.
- Seeking position within the Invasive Species Task Force (20 hours/week): experience with herbicide application required
- Safety
- VA Outdoor Foundation Get Outdoors (GO) grant received- $20,000 grant for improving signage in the park. $5,000 advance for Safety map; $15,000 for replacing signage.
- Need to update the catalog of all existing signs (not just safety related). Discussed utilizing citizen science: possibly set up a form on our website for park-goers to send in geotagged photos.
- New and updated signs will be bilingual (English and Spanish), but also seeking ways to make it broader.
- Need more signage at HFW about Z Dam.
- Climbing
- 4 board members taking direction. Exploring Virginia Recreational Use statute; will help in management easements and future development of new areas.
- 2021 focus: bringing members into JROC
- Other goals: signage, outline best management practices. Manchester Wall popularity increasing; need dispersal.
- Projects
- Inaugural Thursday project run by Patrick last month: New changing rooms at 14th St.
- Regular Thursday evening projects every third Thursday. May one will be moved because of the Pirate Race.
- No Saturday project last month
- List of Potential Projects
- Design kayak racks for put-ins/take-outs. Park has lots of staple-style bike racks. Could include cable so boaters could just bring their own padlock.
- Canoe steps by Belle parking lot: filling in undercut
- 14th St: Fishing line collector, re-grading parking lot, adding pea gravel
- HFW: 2nd Portajohn- Who provides?
- Reedy: moving rocks, tube rack at Reedy again this summer, supersized bin for emptying coolers at take-out. Disperse visitors away from loading zone spots to pump rafts (using cars for electricity). Run electric to meadow somehow?
- Wetlands: build boardwalks (trails are widening; need material)- May 15 project? Also need to restore wildlife blinds, invasive removal
- Ancarrow’s project from earlier this spring: Need to put up JROC signs (visitors voiced appreciation but didn’t know who was responsible)
- Williams Island: Paddling trip to north side- see if portage signs are still visible above Williams Island dam
- Falls of the James Update
- Southern States tower on Southside downtown- lots of construction. 21 parking spots once Diversity Park construction finished (currently only 4-5)?
- Need green space / trails left along Walker Creek
- Southern States tower on Southside downtown- lots of construction. 21 parking spots once Diversity Park construction finished (currently only 4-5)?
- Friends Report
- Hiring new Executive Director soon
- Looking at replacing floating dock at Belle Isle quarry pond
- Also Discussed
- The Coast Guard Auxiliary reached out. They’ll be at Pony on the 22nd. Getting the word out about safety- more people at Pony and easier setup but also needed at HFW
- Parking attendants and other options for parking regulation at Pony, also potentially Reedy. Possibility of volunteer attendants just on busiest weekends. City parking attendants (SB+) patrolling parking.
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