Richmond Tree Steward Heather Holub wrote this piece for the group’s newsletter. It tells the story of a group of tree-loving neighbors coming together to create an orchard in a city park. Very cool stuff.

Chimborazo park. Credit: Phil Riggan, Richmond.com

Visions for a large-scale planting of fruit and nut trees and shrubs in Chimborazo Park have been realized! On November 4th and 11th volunteers from the Richmond Tree Stewards, students from VCU and University of Richmond, members of Transition Richmond, neighbors and even passing dog-walkers helped to plant over 200 fruit and nut trees and shrubs on the southern slopes of Chimborazo Park.

Read More

In three weeks, Ralph White officially retires after 32 years as manager of the James River Park System. I wrote about White and what he accomplished for my Friday column in the Times-Dispatch. In yesterday’s paper I tried to look ahead at what could be in store for the park and what will be expected from White’s successor.

I spoke with many people for the two pieces, and there was much from those conversations that was really interesting but didn’t find it’s way into the columns. One aspect that I’d like to have find a wider audience is the results of the survey conducted by VCU professor Vicky Shivy’s introductory psychology class. Shivvy’s Research Methods students spent 11 days in Pony Pasture, The Wetlands and Belle Isle around the 2012 Memorial Day Weekend trying to get a sense for who uses the park, how often, when, what they’re doing, etc.

The results were fascinating. Click “Continue Reading” to find the highlights…

Read More

Buchanan County in southwest Virginia isn’t the only place you can see elk up close in our fair Commonwealth. Believe it or not, Richmond is home to a herd of about 17 elk. They’re not at Maymont or the zoo. They’re at the Defense Supply Center, just south of the city, and, as NBC12 reports, they’re now open for public viewing.

Credit: forestwander.com

As Brent Solomon reports:

Until now, if you came to the Defense Supply Center of Richmond installation post to get a look at elk in action, you’d probably be asked to leave. But now that’s all history…Thursday, the post held an unveiling of a new public viewing stand. It’s one of just a few places in the Commonwealth with elk on display…Care of the elk is funded through public support. That’s why officials say this public viewing area is now officially yours. There are 17 elk in the herd, including five new calves. You can see them by visiting the Defense Supply Center located on Jefferson Davis Highway near Route 1. The viewing stand is just outside of the east gate on the installation.

Click here to see NBC12’s video of the elk.

Credit: JRAC

Each year Richmond boaters decorate their vessels and converge on the James River for a boat parade marking the holiday season. Next Saturday (Dec. 8th) spectators will line the shorelines at several viewing sites along the parade route, which runs from Richmond to Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield County. If you’ve never been down to the river for the Parade of Lights sponsored by the James River Advisory Council, you’re missing a god time.

The time for registering a boat has passed, but after-celebration activities will be held immediately following the parade at the Richmond Yacht Club. Awards will be presented and winners will be recognized at the celebration. Awards are given in several categories based on the judges’ results. In addition, raffles prizes will be awarded to boater participants. All boaters along with their guests participating in the parade are welcome to attend the after-parade celebration at no cost.

The James River Association has been on top of the Richmond Riverfront Plan throughout its development, providing due diligence on the details and acting as a watchdog. Tonight City Council votes on the final adoption of the plan, and the group has some serious concerns about last minute changes that would alter a couple of key aspects.

According to a JRA email blast this morning: A last minute amendment proposed by land developers would delay the draft plan beyond the December 3 deadline and send the plan back to the beginning of the plan approval process. The delay would mean that current funding to begin implementation of the plan would be lost. Additionally, the amendment proposes to change the language in the plan on two key land parcels – Mayo Island and the UST site – from the carefully negotiated language included in the already approved Downtown Master Plan and remove reference to public parkland on these two parcels that are critical to the overall Riverfront Plan.

If you value the vision the Riverfront Plan lays out, make your voice heard at tonight’s City Council meeting:

Richmond Riverfront Plan Public Hearing Information: Monday, November 26, 6:00PM

Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall

900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219

If you can’t make it to City Hall, see below for the contact information on your councilperson. Let them know that the James is an integral part of Richmond and that you support approval of the Riverfront Plan!

Read More

Attention RVA distance runners. Big news from Richmond Multisports:

“Athletes in Central Virginia are lucky to have so many events to choose from… bike races, road races, muddy races, multi-sports events and on and on. The one spot on the calendar that was left alone has now been claimed by Richmond Multisports and the reaction has been overwhelming! RMS has opened registration for the inaugural running of the LOVE ROX half- marathon and 10k to be held on February 16, 2013. Runners have often lamented that battling the let down after the Richmond marathon and half-marathon while they wait for the spring races to roll around is downright depressing.

LOVE ROX half and 10k will fill that void with a fun Valentine’s concept and interesting route along and near the James River in downtown Richmond.  With a start/finish line at Tredegar St. across from Brown’s Island, the race will feature a heated tent with hearty food and drink to beat the winter blues.  As an added bonus, the LOVE ROX half marathon and 10k will have mid-morning start times, so you don’t have to face the bitter early morning temperatures!

Read More

The Richmond Tree Stewards are looking for a few good men and women who are interested in and care about Richmond’s urban canopy to take their 10-week official tree-steward course. From their website:

The Urban tree canopy  provides  health, cultural, economic and environmental benefits for all.    With citizen support, Richmond can have the vibrant urban canopy we need to provide these benefits.

Richmond needs more tree stewards in more places. Every neighborhood, community organization, and “friends of a park”  group should have at least one tree steward. Does yours?

Our goal is 30 new active members. Classes begin in January. Space is limited.  

Our 10 week Tree Steward course includes tree biology, identification, and pathology and will give you the latest information on tree care, planting and pruning techniques. You’ll  also learn about watersheds, soils and the challenges our urban trees face. This will prepare you to become a volunteer with Richmond Tree Stewards and be part of a growing organization  that is making positive contributions to our communities.

This coming weekend the East Coast Greenway Alliance is holding its semi-annual meeting in Richmond. If you’re not familiar with the ECG, check out my column from Sunday’s Times-Dispatch. In researching the piece, I talked to Jake Helmboldt, Richmond’s Pedestrian, Bicycle and Trails Coordinator. We talked about the ECG but also greenways generally in Central Virginia.

Pedestrian bridge east of Gunn’s Run on the Virginia Capital Trail

One of the items we discussed was the James River Branch Trail. Back in 2009, City Councilman Doug Conner came forward with a proposal to convert an old CSX right-of-way into a greenway in Southside Richmond. A conceptual plan was drawn up for the 2.5-mile linear trail that would run from 49th St. near George Wythe east to Cofer Road. (Here’s a YouTube video of a section of the future trail.) It’s one of the few proposed greenways in the city that have moved beyond the idea stage. In the past, the stumbling block to moving forward with the James Branch Trail was the owner.”Basically CSX wanted a lot of money for it,” Helmboldt said.

They looked to see if there was a land swap they could do with CSX, but “that kind of went nowhere.”

So the project has been in limbo for many months, but there could finally be some movement. “The latest thing is the Trust for Public Land is really interested in trying to help us out with that. So, it may catch fire,” Helmboldt said. “That may be finally the lynch pin to get things moving.”

Progress is never swift in the world of greenways and trail building. There’s much work to be done, but this one to keep your eye on.

The first James River Run 5K is a fundraiser 5K run/walk through the heart of the James River Park at Reedy Creek & Belle Isle. Proceeds of this event will be used to help Greg Hawkins, former director of the VCU Outdoor Adveture program who was diagnosed with lung cancer, with medical expenses and start funds to install a water fountain at the Reedy Creek access.Read More

The view looking north from Belle Isle.

The Friends of the James River Park have a note on their Facebook page today that’s worth being passed around: Richmond City Council is holding a public hearing on Monday, November 12, 2012 at 6 p.m. to adopt the amendment to the Master Plan for the “Richmond Riverfront Plan.”

The hearing will be held at Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219. Click here for the entire Riverfront Master Plan with amendments.