Parks and Recreation Update to Governor Northam’s Executive Order 55

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) continues to take the safety and health of our patrons as a top priority. As the City of Richmond continues to learn more about this virus, additional steps are being taken to help control the spread.

Effective Saturday, April 4, 2020, PRCF will close the Tredegar Parking lot, the parking lot at Pony Pasture, access to the James River Park System (JRPS) at the Pipeline entry point, and entry to the JRPS at the 21^st Street Tower on Saturdays and Sundays. These closures will be in effect for the duration of the stay at home order in accordance with Governor Northam’s Executive Order 55.

Previous PRCF closures include all dog parks, athletic fields, picnic shelters, park houses, community centers, administrative offices, basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts, skate parks, playgrounds, and the cancellation of all department sponsored programming. The department will also continue to close the traffic gates in Byrd Park on Strollers Lane, Westover Road, and Trafford Road on the weekends.

The city understands the importance of the park system to our residents and will re-evaluate the need for closures and cancellations as this unprecedented situation evolves.

Staff at PRCF’s Administrative Office will be available to assist residents via phone at 804-646-5733 or email at AskParkRec@richmondgov.com .

For more information about how the City of Richmond is responding to COVID-19, please visit www.richmondgov.com/covid19.

For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

James River Anticipated to Reach Moderate Flood Stage

The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) continues to monitor the James River as it is expected to reach a moderate flood stage of 15 feet by Wednesday, September 19. With the current river levels at 13.7 feet, the James River is currently closed to all users, with access to Belle Isle being restricted in the next few hours. The official flood stage level is at 12 feet.

The James River Park System (JRPS) has protocols that have been put into place to ensure the safety of all park users and have been activated with the recent rains from the remints of Hurricane Florence.

-       Projected at 5 feet – All river users need to use a life jacket if engaging in any activities on the river.

-       Projected at 8 feet – Trash and recycling cans are removed from the riverfront. The Pipeline Trail is closed to all users.

-       Above 9 feet – The river is closed to all users.

-       Projected at 14 feet – Access to Belle Isle along the North Side at Hollywood Rapid is restricted to all users.

-       Projected to top 20 feet – Riverfront locations and the T. Tyler Potterfield Bridge are closed to all users.

Residents are encouraged to monitor the river levels from the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service website.

For more information on JPRS or the PRCF programs or amenities go to www.RichmondGov.com/parks or follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Buttermilk Trail Easement Update

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities has reached an agreement with regards to liability with the owners of the private property on a section of the Buttermilk Trail, west of Boulevard Bridge. This agreement will allow the Dominion Riverrock events scheduled for this weekend to occur uninterrupted.

 “We are happy to be able to resolve these issues with the property owners and are excited to be able to keep this section as an integral part of the trail system at James River Park,” said Barry Russell, Deputy Director for Richmond’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.

Great Blue Heron Rookery Walks Begin This Weekend!

The Virginia Audubon Council, Richmond Audubon Society, and the City of Richmond’s James River Park System have partnered for the 2014 Great Blue Heron Rookery walks. The walks have been scheduled for Saturday, March 8, March 22, April 5, and April 12 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and will begin at the James River Park Pipeline Walk located at South 12th Street. There is also an afternoon walk scheduled for Saturday April 26, 2014 from 3 to 5 p.m. in celebration of Earth Day.

The Great Blue Herons will, throughout the spring, be courting, nest-building and breeding in preparation for egg-laying and raising their chicks. Every walk will bring its own set of sights and sounds for the whole family to enjoy! It is suggested to bring binoculars to be able to see the herons up close.

This event has a $5 charge per walk, per person for the benefit of the Virginia Audubon Council and the Richmond Audubon. Participants are being asked to meet in the grassy area west of 14^th Street.  Parking is available on a first come, first serve basis in the lot that is closest to the Rookery in Shockhoe Bottom.

 

Please contact director@virginiaauduboncouncil.org for more information. Those interested can also find out more information at www.virginiaauduboncouncil.org .

Ceremony to Celebrate Completion of Great Shiplock Park Trailhead

 Virginia Capital Trail Reaches Another Milestone —

Great Shiplock Park Trailhead Completed

 

Ceremony Also Highlights Revitalization of Chapel Island and Advancement of Riverfront Plan

WHAT:           Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Virginia Capital Trail western trailhead at Great Shiplock Park and revitalization of Chapel Island

 

WHO:             Mayor Dwight C. Jones, City of Richmond

                        Cynthia Newbille, Richmond City Council, 7^th District
                        Charles Donato, Board of Directors Chairman, Virginia Capital Trail Foundation
                        Dr. Norman Merrifield, Director, Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities

WHEN:          Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at 2 p.m.

                       
WHERE:        Great Shiplock Park
                        2603 Dock Street
                        Richmond, VA 23223

BACKGROUND:

The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation and the City of Richmond jointly announce a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Virginia Capital Trail western trailhead at Great Shiplock Park. The ceremony will also highlight the revitalization of Chapel Island, to include the addition of a non-motorized boat launch, a half-mile trail, and significantly-enhanced access to the 5.6 acres of riverfront parkland. Tours of both Great Shiplock Park and Chapel Island will be available after the ceremony.

Parking will not be available at Great Shiplock Park. Parking is available along both sides of Pear Street, and at the parking lots for the River Lofts at Tobacco Row along Dock Street.

Contacts:

Beth Weisbrod                                              Jay Ell Vaughn

Executive Director                                         Marketing and Public Relations Specialist        
Virginia Capital Trail Foundation                   City of Richmond
beth@virginiacapitaltrail.org                          jayell.vaughn@richmondgov.com
804-788-6455                                                804-646-4642
           

Barbara Jacocks

Principal Planner
Richmond Regional Planning District Commission
bjacocks@richmondregional.org
804-323-2033

 

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James River Park Manager Named

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities has named Nathan J. Burrell as manager of its James River Park. Burrell follows in the footsteps of the well-known Ralph White, who worked for the park for more than 30 years until his retirement in December 2012. His appointment comes after a nationwide search and review by a citizen advisory committee.

      “I am confident in Mr. Burrell’s ability to manage and maintain the James River Park, which is one of the city’s greatest assets and widely appreciated by so many Richmond-area residents as well as outdoor enthusiast from across the country,” said Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, director of the city’s parks and recreation department.

      Burrell has worked for the department in the James River Park as trails manager since 2003. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in parks and recreation management and a minor in environmental studies.

      “I’m excited about this opportunity to help in making Richmond one of the most livable cities in the U.S. with my focus on the management and development of one of our greatest resources, the James River Park,” said Burrell. “In addition, I am especially committed to maintaining a balanced approach between adventure recreation and environmental stewardship, which is critical to the future of the park.”

      Burrell, who is an instructor in training for the League of American Bicyclists, is also a state certified erosion and sediment control agent. He is a member of the Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Trails Planning Commission and the James River Branch Rail-Trail Advisory Committee; a board member of the Ground Works RVA Steering Committee; a technical advisor to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation for their “Trail Tool Box;”and sits on the Richmond Strategic Multimodal Transportation Plan Advisory Committee.

      In addition, Burrell has presented at six national and state Trail and Greenway Conferences and won several awards, including being named as one of Richmond’s “Top 40 Under 40” by Style Weekly in 2011 and named Richmond’s #1 Object of Affection by Richmond Magazine in 2007. He has also received two recognitions by Richmond City Council, one for the development of the trails in Larus Park and the other for the development of the 14^th Street White Water Take Out on the James River.  

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Guided Walks to James River Park's Heron Rookery Offered

The department has partnered with the Richmond Audubon Society and the Virginia Audubon Council to offer guided walks again this year to see the Great Blue Herons making their home in the James River Park.

     The popular walks will be offered on three Saturdays; February 16, March 16 and April 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. Each walk to the rookery will bring its own sights and sounds as these magnificent birds court and build their nests throughout the spring in preparation for laying their eggs and raising their chicks. The cost of each is $5 per person.

     No registration is required. To participate in one of the guided walks, bring $5 in cash and meet in the grassy area on the northwest side of the 14^th Street Bridge. To participate in this tour, you must be able to climb a small ladder. You may also want to bring a pair of binoculars.

    For more information, call (804) 646-5944.

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Belle Isle Parking Lot Public Notification

Construction on Richmond’s new street that will connect Second Street to Tredegar Street on the north side of the James River downtown will have a minimal effect on visitors to the James River Park’s Belle Isle who park in the Tredegar Street lot.                                                

     The first or eastern entrance to the lot on Tredegar Street will be closed effective Tuesday, October 16, due to construction on the new connector street; however, the second or western entrance to the lot, as well as the entire lot itself, will remain open throughout the entire construction period.

City to Open New Bike Skills Training Area on Belle Isle

The department will open its new Belle Isle Bike Skills Area on Saturday, September 29, at 10 a.m. with a celebration that will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, demonstrations, and tours. The public is invited to attend and to bring their bicycles to try out the mountain bike training area.

     “I encourage residents and visitors to come discover the Belle Isle Bike Skills Training Area as it is another step Richmond is taking to create bike-friendly, outdoor tourist attractions, as we prepare for the UCI Road World Cycling Championships in 2015,” comments Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “The benefits of cycling are tremendous to our city in many ways, including our efforts to encourage city residents to get active and adopt a healthy lifestyle.”

      The new training area is located within the James River Park on Belle Isle across from the Tredegar Street suspension bridge. It includes a beginner and expert pump track, rock gardens, and log and rock skinnies in addition to other features. Bicyclists can learn to handle these obstacles and challenges, which they will find on the trails throughout the James River Park, in a controlled environment.

     “This site, which has been built largely with the labor of volunteers who love mountain biking, will provide a place to learn and practice mountain biking skills and introduce the fun of mountain biking as a recreational activity to a much larger audience,” said Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, director of the department.

      In addition, while this new facility provides “off-road” training, the city also has plans to add an “on-road” training component on Belle Isle adjacent to this site. The on-road training facility will provide a place for children and adults to become competent bicyclists, as well as learn and practice the skills needed to ride safely in an urban environment. 

     “The James River Park is already known throughout the East coast and internationally for its outstanding network of urban mountain biking trails. Now with the addition of this skills area Richmond has enhanced its reputation as a ‘bike city,’” said Jakob Helmoldt, the city’s bicycle, pedestrian and trails coordinator.

      Organizations that provided volunteers who helped construct the new training site, as well as in-kind donations, include the Friends of the James River Park, the James River Outdoor Coalition, the Richmond Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts, the International Mountain Biking Association, Virginia Bicycling Federation, Hands-On Greater Richmond, SportsBackers, Altria, Luck Stone, Tektonics Design Group, Sattler Creative, Alpine Trails, Dreaming Creek, and Green Side Up Landscaping.

     The Belle Isle Skills Area is free to use and is open from sunrise to sunset. For more information, call (804) 646-5733 or visit www.RichmondGov.com/Parks.

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James River Park Programs Scheduled

The department has scheduled three programs to be held in its James River Park System.       
     On Friday, July 29, children and their families are invited to come to the park’s headquarters at Reedy Creek, 4001 Riverside Drive, for a program called “Insects at Night.” This program offers a hands-on investigation of insects caught in light traps and is co-sponsored by the James River Park System and VCU. No fee or advance registration is required for the program, which will take place from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

     On Saturday, July 30, back by popular demand, the department will offer a guided Torch-Lit Walk on the Slave Trail. The walk, which will cost $5 per person, will start at 8:30 p.m. from Ancarrow’s Landing, located at 1308 Bander St. No advance registration is required, and return transportation to the parking lot following the walk will be provided.

     On Friday, Aug. 12, the department will offer a “Moonlight Paddle and Picnic for Wounded Warriors.” This free program is co-sponsored by the James River Park System, the James River Outdoor Coalition and McGuire Veterans Hospital, and all veterans, “wounded warriors,” handicapped individuals, and the general public are invited to participate. The event will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Huguenot Flatwater, located at 8200 Riverside Drive. Advance registration by Wednesday, Aug. 10, is required by calling (804) 646-8911. There is no fee to participate.

 

Take a Valentine's Date to see Richmond's Heron Rookery

The department invites you to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a tour of the Heron Rookery in the James River Park.
“The courtship behavior of the Great Blue Herons can be eerily similar to that of humans,” says Ralph White, the park’s manager.
The guided tour will take place Saturday, Feb. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants are advised to dress for the weather, and although some spotting scopes will be available, bring binoculars if they have them. Cameras can also be used.
The cost of the tour is $5 for adults and $1 for children 12 and younger. Special parking for this event is available in the Whitewater Boater’s Lot next to the Floodwall on the northeast side of the 14th Street Bridge where the group will meet. It is a short walk to the Heron Rookery and you will need to be able to climb a ladder to get there.
This tour is co-sponsored by Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the Richmond Audubon Society. For more information, call 804-646-8911.
This tour will be offered again on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the same time.

City offers Slave Trail Walk to Commemorate Black History Month

The department is offering two opportunities this month to take an interpretive walk on Richmond’s Slave Trail in recognition of Black History Month.
These programs offer the opportunity to walk along the same route through what is now the James River Park System that so many enslaved Americans were forced to take in the first half of the 19th century before being placed on the auction block. You will also see the many signs of slave labor that are still visible in Richmond today.
The walks are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 26, and last until approximately 5 p.m. The fee is $5 per person. No pre-registration is necessary.
Walk participants should meet their guide at Ancarrow’s Landing Park, located at the end of Maury Street. The walk is approximately 2 miles one way, but can be shortened if the group prefers to drive part of the way.
These programs are co-sponsored by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the Friends of the James River Park. For more information, call 804-646-8911.

Please Follow City's River Regulations

May 10, 2010 Reminder: Please follow River Regulations
The city of Richmond reminds visitors to the James River Park to obey Richmond’s river regulations.
“The regulations were put in place by the city of Richmond to increase public safety at the river. We want the public to enjoy the park, but we want them to be safe and to obey the regulations. They could save your life,” said J.R. Pope, director of the department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.
The regulations require that anyone in the water must be wearing a life jacket when the water level reaches five feet at Richmond’s Westham Gauge. When the river level reaches nine feet, the river is closed and it is illegal for anyone who does not have a whitewater permit to be in the water.
“Now that the weather is warm, more people are coming out to enjoy the park and the river, and we want the public to know these river regulations,” Pope said. “If you plan on getting in the water – even if it’s just to wade along the shore or to go sit on a rock – it’s important for your own safety that you follow the regulations.”
Park staff posts signs throughout the James River Park, at river access points, when the water level reaches five feet that state you must wear a life jacket, and when it reaches nine feet the signs indicate that only people with a permit are allowed in the water.
Citizens can also check James River water levels before they leave home by calling Richmond’s weather and river level hotline at (804) 646-8228 and then selecting option 4, or by visiting the National Weather Service’s website at http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/ and typing “James River Westham” in the search box.
Pope says that many people don’t understand or underestimate the power of the river and that looks can be deceiving. While the water may look calm on the surface, it can be moving with such force below the surface that it makes it impossible to keep your footing even in a few feet of water. Also, conditions can change very quickly.
In addition to obeying the water level regulations, here are some other measures the department recommends people take to be safe at the river:
· If you can’t swim - just don’t go in.
· Never go in the water when you are alone.
· When visiting the river, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
· Pay attention to your surroundings. Water levels and conditions can change VERY quickly.
· Always wear shoes in the river.
· Be aware that the river bottom is uneven and may drop off suddenly and that the rocks can be slippery.
· Always have young children wear life jackets.
· Don’t overestimate your skills. Even the strongest swimmers and most experienced boaters can and have experienced difficulty.
Regulations also forbid bringing glass containers into the park, so remember to use plastic or paper items instead.
Finally, please do not litter. “Litter makes our parks unsightly and unsanitary,” said Pope. “You can help make Richmond a great place to be this summer by helping to keep our parks clean so everyone can enjoy them. We keep plenty of trash cans and recycling boxes around throughout of the park, so please use them.”
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Department Offers Guided Walks

The department will continue offering its guided walks on the Slave Trail on Saturdays in March and has added a new walk in the James River Park to see the growing nesting colony of Great Blue Herons.
The guided walks along the Slave Trail will be offered every Saturday in March at 2 p.m. These are emotional walks that originate at the docks at Ancarrow’s Landing and cross the river to conclude at the site of Lumpkin’s Jail and the Reconciliation Statue.
Guided walks to see the heron rookery on the James River are a new program being offered in partnership with the Audubon Society. They will be held every Saturday throughout March at 11 a.m.
More than 40 nests of Great Blue Herons have been counted already in the James River Park’s growing rookery. This is a short hike to the viewing site, but you must be able to climb a ladder. Dress appropriately, and if possible bring binoculars or a spotting scope.
All walks are $5 per person and advance registration is required by calling 646-8911.

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Guided Walks on Richmond's Slave Trail

January 21, 2010
Richmond's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will offer guided walks on Richmond's Slave Trail each Saturday during February in recognition of Black History Month.
These emotional walks, led by James River Park Manager Ralph White, will take you from the stone docks at Ancarrow's Landing through the forest and across the river to the site of the old slave jails.
The walks will be scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. based on demand. There is a $5 per person fee.
Please register in advance by calling the James River Park System at 804-646-8911.