January Meeting Minutes

JROC Meeting Minutes – January 10, 2024

6:04 called to order by Rosenburg

1. December 2023 minutes approved
2. Meeting attendees introduced themselves (12 people at meeting)
3. JRPS Report given by Ross (see attached Park Report for full details, photos, etc.):
   1. Visitation:
      1. December, 84,395
      1. 1,747,978 park users in 2023
      1. Estimated well over 2,000,000 actual visitors per year (counters not exact)
   1. Updates:
      1. Met with Marvel to go over plans and designs for Belle Isle (grant-funded most likely, and some Friends Of funding). Several projects coming down the pipe by contractors, many to be done in-house by JRPS staff
         1. Hydro plant re-vamp (likely last on the list)
         1. Re-deck the service bridge (Reedy Creek access trail to Belle Isle), in discussions with Timmons about how to re-do it better
         1. Shore stabilization (through Army Corps of Engineers)
         1. Demolish wedge building; eventually have a modular restroom
         1. Skate park installed on a portion where nail shed is, with a reimagined picnic space, with some sound barrier between
         1. Timmons to stabilize the rolling mill wall
         1. Quarry pond boardwalk
         1. Re-design pump track to be solely under the bridge, and asphalted (designed by contractor, built by park staff)
            1. Inquiries can be submitted in March to the community engagement urban design committee
      1. Giles to announce natural resource management team, there is a grant for getting that position (it will be a Friends Of JRPS employee)
      1. Trails Crew to build another beginner mountain bike trail (like Lost trail) on Belle Isle, to be called the Lost American
      1. New gate schedule set (park staff opens; ASG closes gates, and opens them on weekends)
      1. At floodwall, a new gate installed under 95 (improvement over bollards & chain)
   1. Projects in December:
      1. Planting and mulching along the Reedy Creek bypass trail
      1. Ripped up old tennis court at Fonticello and transformed space into planter beds (Ashley Mullen designed the beds). Rebuilt the soil profile to uncompact the area.
      1. Near dumpsters at Pony Pasture (right side of bathroom): installation of corrugated pipe and asphalt ramp to address water drainage issue
      1. JROC work project at Hydro Plant (around 30 volunteers, combined effort between JROC and Friends Of JRPS) to paint over graffiti (hydro plant, 21^st St Tower, and some dry rocks)
      1. New kiosk at Huguenot Flatwater installed with new/updated maps & signs by Katie Lemmert
      1. In progress: outdoor education deck at Reedy Creek (24’x24’) so kids have a better platform than the current rocks/gravel. Beams constructed. Next step is 9 24” deep concrete pier footings.
      1. Next JROC project (1/20/24) will be taking down old failing Huguenot Flatwater bridge which no longer quite spans the gap. Construction of new one to likely be done in February or March. Matt volunteered JROC to help with this when it’s time.
4. High water – remaining buoy above Z-dam floated down river to near Intermediate Terminal.
5. Gear swap to be in April 2024
   1. We’ve gotten invitations from Science Museum and Chesterfield to join their Earth Days
   1. Doing it on our own as a JROC event, maybe at Forest Hill Park, is likely the direction for this year; maybe in tandem with Patrick for get-on-the-pond/lake at FHP
6. Election prep – March will be elections for JROC Board
   1. Matt will be stepping down this year as President
   1. Natalie stepping down as Secretary
   1. Sallie staying on as Treasurer
   1. Greg staying on as Vice President
   1. Sam suggested: creating some sort of incentive for folks to help/serve, help out the President with all the tasks they do? Create a sub-committee this year to look into it?
7. Committees
   1. Promotions / Marketing / Social Media Strategy committee update from Natalie, Max, Laura, Greg, Matt, at Nat
   1. Multi-level/multi-faceted strategy for promotions, leveraging relationships with other groups, social media consistent presence, email list, flyers or signs at the sites we’ll do projects, PSAs on radio stations, etc.
      1. All places to direct back to central spot, i.e. main page of JROC website
   1. Need/goal to create a year overview calendar for posting, events, etc. for Promotion Committee planning purposes
   1. Website needs to be updated with new Park calendar widget
8. JROC Projects
   1. Greg gave update on Dry Rocks / Hydro Plant painting project in December
   1. January 20^th, 9am at Huguenot Flatwater we’ll be working on getting old bridge out
   1. Putting some pavers at the end (~10” drop off) at end of extended Tredegar boat ramp? Fire department has requested this so axles don’t get messed up; involve Ben with Waterfront for this project.
   1. February project – possibly the new Huguenot Flatwater bridge?

Meeting adjourned at 7:18pm.