October Meeting Minutes

10/4/23

• Sept. minutes: approved
• Treasurer’s report: approved
  • Available funds: $115k. Doesn’t include $ already set aside for specific projects. Some funds earmarked for Huguenot Flatwater are leftover ($18,800); they are now allotted for future river access projects.
• JRPS report (Ross)
  • Visitation
    • 135,250 visitors in Sept. 2023
    • This count is lower that actual. Southern T Potts bridge counter has been down for the last month and a half. Have replacement counters now.
  • Recent Projects
    • Belle Isle tree care from last year’s plantings
    • Bench installation at Taylor’s Hill (not in JRPS)
    • Pony Pasture: adjusted rocks for improved footing at bottom of river access steps, removed vegetation, secured rocks w/mortar reinforcement 
    • Climbing committee work day – Buttermilk trail. Climbers rappelled from top of steep and otherwise inaccessible hills and removed invasive plants w/Anne Wright and Invasive Species Task Force
    • Dog waste station installed at Fonticello Park
    • Altria workday at Pine Camp; landscaping, tree planting, and more
    • Reedy Creek Bypass now open to allow visitors to pass park HQ without sharing road with maintenance vehicles
    • Ancarrow’s Landing: soil amendments (city compost, biochar), planter circles
      • MEB Construction day of service: removed silt, cleared boat ramp, pruned landscape trees, hauled illegal dumping
      • $250 approved by JROC for “park staff use only” stickers on dumpsters 
• Friends of JRPS (Josh)
  • The Friends group has taken on corporate volunteering projects / days of service. 
  • $200k funds for invasive plant removal 
  • Belle Isle in Master Plan projects to be completed over the next few years. Includes reno and improvment for quarry pond, the shed, hydro plant, pre-Civil War ruins, and more
    • “The Meadow” progress to be made in the next year or so (see brochure)
  • Mayo Island development: discussing alternative takeout; use by outfitters; re-naturalization 
• King of the James
  • Friends of JRPS Park Star video: features an org, person, or event connected to the park. Friends offered to highlight someone for KotJ this month. 
  • Course finalized – RO outpost at 14th St. GPS track forthcoming. 85 participants currently signed up. 
• Projects
  • 14th Street updates
    • Replacing rotten steps at takeout- were put in in 2005. 3 live oak 10’ timbers milled down to spec. This Sunday will bring supplies down. 
    • Other needs: invasive species removal, potentially widen the steps (clear some vegetation). 10am Sunday 10/8; paddlers can help.
  • 10/21
    • Tredegar St looking out toward Belle Isle- getting viewshed back. Invasive species removal, DEQ crew. Need to sign up (link in latest newsletter) 
  • Music at Maymont was a big success this year. Total funds raised needs to be tallied. Over $3,700 earned at one of the last shows.