9/6/23
- August Minutes: Approved
- Treasurer’s Report: Approved
- JRPS Report
- Design dev. Belle Isle- FoJRPS w/Marvel Designs to unveil plans Sept 22 at Friends’ annual event.
- Pumphouse windows- more installed, mostly boiler room area.
- Texas Beach bridge closure- security of closure handed over to Trades. Assisting w/lumber and welding tower shut again.
- Capital Improvements project team working w/engineering firm for bridge and tower in same spot – Summer of 2024 est. completion date
- Reedy bypass trail. Safe walking and biking path protecting park users from HQ maintenance traffic.
- TPotts bridge w/stiffeners and fasteners- waiting on parts. Almost 50% done. Feels more stable and level when walking on it.
- Visitation for August – 146,528. YTD 1,276,610. One TPott counter malfunctioning. Replacing counters as needed with the new ones JROC helped buy last winter.
- August JROC workday at Huguenot Flatwater (HFW) ramp- installed boat bumpers to dock’s edge. Cleared debris and consolidated sand bags left after construction. Pruned veg at stairset.
- New JRPS entrance sign on ramp from Belvidere bridge.
- Helped on 8/22 with kudzu removal at Canoe Run. Was swallowing area by new playground. Need plan to keep it at bay.
- Building renovated in HQ. More staff and funding now than ever. Need more space and reliable internet (6 more staff on the program side).
- Also at HFW – Invasive Species Task Force (ISTF) removed a full truckload of invasive honeysuckle.
- Reedy bridge – old Boy Scout project, has been washed out in the past, now rebuilt.
- Climbing Committee updates (Sam Alberts)
- Working w/Giles to launch a one-year pilot program in Jan 1, 2024. American Alpine Club (AAC)- new chair pres wants to be involved w/JROC.
- The plan includes a compilation of a few documents. Outlines basic climbing rules the rangers can enforce (e.g. inappropriate gear; environmental harm); plan for developing, maintaining, and replacing permanent hardware; who manages gear caches w/in the park; liability.
- Modeled after Breaks Interstate Park plan and is community-developed. If the public wants to develop an area or a single route, they can submit forms to be supervised by the park. For pilot, looking at nonprofit partners- JROC, Friends of the JRPS, ISTF, RVA More, AAC. Can still update the plan for now- Sam and Giles housing documents (can email Sam to look over them). Trying to do some Buttermilk W / Netherwoods Quarry (9/22 Fri) to remove vertical invasive species. Volunteers up to 10 or so from AAC and ask for volunteers.
- King of the James race
- 67 days left to go! Working w/Joey to finalize the course. Go ahead to use 14th St. Party at the finish line instead of FHP. Need changes to the course… starting and ending at 14th. May need a cop to close the street down.
- TBD on ABC license.
- JROC Projects
- 9/16: Pony pasture steps – steep drop during low water. Reworking the area, path to the eddy upstream of steps.
- 4th drop undercut slab- assessment w/Andrew Ali.
- One missing buoy above Z-Dam- JRPS replacing this month
- Team River Runner – milled 3 new beams to replace rotten timbers at 14th St steps.
- Diversity Park – partnership between JRPS and Venture Richmond?
- Clearing invasive species on Belle Isle – Nov. / Dec. project
- Ideas:
- Walkway btw 22nd St parking lot and tower- rooty section needs a bridge to create better passing without harming the old tree.
- Tredegar viewshed behind guardrail needs sprucing up.
- Friends of JRPS
- Low on general park maps- need more. Good on river safety maps.
- Camera to Canvas event- fall event cocktail party at boathouse at Rocketts Landing on 9/22 evening. 40 participating artists who’ve chosen a favorite Bill Draper photo to paint. Auction and raffle. Tix are $150, incl. drinks. 15-20 of the prints up for auction that evening, then rest online. All proceeds to Friends.
- River safety maps
- Delivered lots to multiple fire stations, outfitters, community orgs. Fire dept gives them out at school visits. Still need to give to VCU OAP, JRPS
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