October Meeting Minutes

10/6/21

• HFW
  • DPU permit that wasn’t processed caused short delay; was approved the following week
  • High water caused another delay. When the water level is cooperating, construction can start now that they have a turbidity curtain.
• Pipeline 
  • Interior insulating material is taking a long time to set (weeks instead of days), which needs to happen before exterior work can begin.
• JRPS
  • Visitation
    • September #s are in: 175,000. Close to 2020’s #s. Glitches at the counter at Reedy Creek. 1.75 million for the year so far.
    • Average lower #s due to many factors, including the sewage leak at Tuckahoe Creek and the Pipeline leak occurring within days of each other.
    • 42nd St parking lot is now open through October on weekends. 22nd St lot still open. Tredegar closed due to Folk Festival.
  • ARPA funding
    • Council approved upcoming weekend.
    • $155 million dedicated to city; there had been a concern that not much would go to parks.
    • Through JROC, Friends, a survey, etc. $78 million is dedicated to parks- over half!
      • Greenway: $12 million
        • Reedy Creek > Forest Hill > Crooked Branch and pedestrian bridge > George Wythe HS > James River Branch
      • Texas Beach tower: $2 million
      • Systemwide: James River Parks Master Plan
      • Lands acquisition: $1.5 million
    • Community Centers- lots of funding going here, too
  • Other Funding
    • $145,000 from JROC – December accepted date
    • $200,000 for Pumphouse ADA ramp
    • VA Outdoor Grant 
      • Katie’s design proposals are done; need input
      • $5,000 up front from them; once signs are approved, more $ to create them
    • Natalie’s capstone project for JRPS Artist Residence: digital and print magazine of local art sold via MagCloud (online) and maybe locally- 100% of proceeds going to JROC. Publish goal by end of 2021.
  • Upcoming local events
    • InLight at Great Shiplock Park: November 12-13 (Capital Trail will remain open but the parking lot will be closed that weekend)
    • Not parks, but also Maymont Garden Glow: Wednesdays thru Sundays, Oct. 15 – Nov. 7. (times vary)
  • Volunteering
    • 29 different events, 600 hours!
    • Invasive plant removal at Ancarrow’s, Reedy Creek HQ (clean up so that outdoor classroom is ready), Belle Isle, Tredegar
    • Thursday group volunteering cancelled but lots got done with Sept. group
    • Saturday – finished Wetlands third wildlife viewing blind
    • Dry Rocks cleanup via Riverside Outfitters
  • Operations
    • Working at T Potts bridge pruning landscaped trees, cleaning up, removing graffiti, preparing for Folk Fest.
    • Revamped pollinator garden next to HQ
    • Vista clearing on Belle Isle
    • Regrading gravel lots for gravel redo- underlying layers of old asphalt on some doesn’t allow ideal drainage
    • Pony Pasture- potholes can’t be fixed because of underlying asphalt
    • 40 tons of crush and run at Ancarrow’s Landing 
    • New Reedy Creek takeout sign – Jocelyn of Riverside Outfitters and JRPS collaboration; sign will now be 20’ up on a sturdy sycamore
    • Ancarrow’s in ramp area- future dredging require it to be closed for about a week (high water events cause heavy deposition here)
  • Other
    • Superintendent position is readvertised nationally. Decent # of other positions getting approved (Forest Hill Park, community gardens)
    • Free after school care through Richmond elementary schools – need staff
    • Pumphouse
      • Canal / dam damage- repairs in progress
      • Reinforcing ballroom and roof
      • New windows going in
      • Historic Richmond is partnering
    • Riverside Drive – speed bumps midway down hill from E side (new sign yet to be installed)
    • Diversity Park supposed to be 21 parking spots, AKA Flood Wall Parking- barriers are up and has been opening/closing often. Parallel parking on Hull St?
• King of the James
  • $12,000 in paid sponsorships and pending sponsors
  • Used to be a 14-day turnaround for shirts, now 5 weeks! 25% discount from a local shop for $1,700 in shirts; plan to use $250 left for ads. 
  • Low on registrants compared to this time last year. Solutions: help single-sport folks find teammates; advertise
• Friends
  • Fall Fest at Legends a couple weeks ago
  • JROC and Ross / JRPS to set up projects meeting soon
• Falls of the James
  • Letter to the Editor to CSX- direct from Scenic Rivers Committee
  • JRAC and Middle James Roundtable partnering with Falls. The Parade of Lights should be officially happening this year.
• Projects
  • 10/16 TBA
  • Proposed:
    • Blackbird Island improvements / conservation
    • Canoe steps at Tredegar
    • Revamp the hill with switchbacks on S side of T Potts bridge
    • Floodwall graffiti removal and painting
    • Pipeline graffiti removal