Here are a few photos from riverfront yesterday. Enjoy today, because rain returns tomorrow.
Even the fish seemed to be enjoying the late afternoon sun…
Enjoy The Day
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Category Archives: parks
WRIC: Repair work, modified contracts and misclassified money prompts calls for park audit
Thankfully, WRIC’s Kerri O’Brien is following up on the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association’s request for a full audit of the Monroe Park Conservancy’s budget and work.
“I think the City needs to get their financial house in order. That money was supposed to be in the school construction budget somehow it ended up getting spent on Monroe Park,” said Woodson.
It’s unclear if that money was on top of the $3 million the City gave.
“We need to make sure every single dollar down to the penny was accounted for. A lot of stuff is being done by paper and pencil. That’s a major issue,” Councilwoman Gray told 8News.
8News has also been looking over the original contract or the park. 8News found the agreement with the design firm 3north was modified three times, tacking on an additional $260,000 in taxpayer money.
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“We feel with that revelation it is imperative that a full and comprehensive audit be placed on the renovation of this park find to where all the money went,” Woodson told 8News.
Spring Brings Invasives- Rare Snake Like Amphibian Discovered Off North Bank Trail
A small team of visiting biologists, working along the wetter portions of North Bank Trail have made a surprising find during a warmer part of this past weekend – a rare, snake-like amphibian known as the Brazilian penis snake or Atretochoana eiselti.
Matthew Hooper, from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, found the creature and had this to say:
It seemed to have been stirring while still coming out of hibernation. I was very shocked by its appearance. It is not clear how this sample came to be along the James River. Perhaps it was an exotic pet that was discarded. While it is doubtful that this salamander has mated, it is considered invasive, and the James River Park’s Invasive Plant Task Force has been tasked with following up on the matter. They have been quite busy ever since those perennial Thai pitcher plants were found on Belle Island.
More Monroe Park Woes
Neighbor and OHNA President Todd Woodson reports…
The audit of the 2019-2020 Budget and Strategic Planning- Capital Improvement Plan was released yesterday and $350,000.00 in Monroe Park renovation expenses were misclassified by the Finance Department as being School Construction funding. That means the Monroe Park “renovation” actually cost at least $350K more than we thought. WAY over $7,000,000.00 was spent for an environmental disaster…
Editorial: Will other local media report on this? Doubtful, since they have done such a horrible job already. Citizens continue to ask City Council when the Monroe Park Conservancy’s lease will be terminated and the park returned to the public.
New Activities Offered In Monroe Park
… Or as a neighbor put it, the transfer of ownership to VCU is complete.
James River Park Planning Meeting Last Night
Some scenes from the James River Park Master Plan meeting last night at the Virginia War Memorial:
Much of the meeting was spent conversing and viewing and writing on maps… nothing was officially proposed…
For more information on the James River Park Master Plan, click here (and if you have not already, fill out a survey).
Nice Day For A Hike On The North Bank Trail
With clearing skies, yesterday afternoon was a great time for a slow hike on the North Bank Trail. Many bicyclists did the right thing and stayed off the trail after the weekend rain as to not tear things up.
Still some invasive species:
Let this serve as a good reminder for the James RIver Park Master Plan meeting tomorrow night at the Virginia War Memorial.
Fading light in Laurel Street alley:
James River Cresting
It was a great day to walk down to the James River and hear it roar. Some experts said it would crest at 16.2 feet this evening, the highest it has been in 9 years.
Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool made it down to Belle Island and took this photo:
Meanwhile, the Dogtown Dish folks went further downriver to Fulton and took this shot of the historic Intermediate Terminal Building and future proposed site for Stone Brewing’s World Bistro & Gardens.
Resign Northam March Scheduled For Monroe Park Monday
Looks like several groups, including Protect Our Water, are marching from Monroe Park on Monday.
James River Park Master Plan Meeting for 5th District This Thursday
There is a meeting this Thursday to discuss a future master plan for the James River Park, sponsored by Friends of The James River and City Council representatives Parker Agelasto (Oregon Hill’s Council rep) and Kristen Larson. It’s being held at 6 pm at the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (3411 Semmes Avenue, across the river).
From the meeting notice:
We want to hear from you! Attend this community meeting to share your input on the future of the James River Park. Registration is not required.
The James River Park is a crown jewel of the region, providing a unique natural wilderness for park users. As the number of visitors to the park increases each year, a Master Plan is needed to preserve, protect, and properly maintain the park for years to come. The plan will influence the future of the park within the overall framework of the park’s conservation easement.
Your input is valuable. If you can’t attend a community meeting, please take the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JamesRiverParkMasterPlan
As Oregon Hill pretty much borders the James River Park and is a popular conduit to it, neighbors will hopefully have a lot of input that will be taken seriously.
As a bit of editorial, citizens should take a broad view of things, including protection of wildlife (and corridors for it), threats of light pollution (such as proposed signage at the high-rise at 2000 Riverside Drive across the river), and commercialization of this heavily-used park system. Nothing against the new superintendent of James River Park, Bryce Wilk, but it seems like more citizens should have been involved earlier in the hiring process. Having these master plan sessions after the hiring allows the suspicion that an agenda is already in place with a new Superintendent. That’s not necessarily the case, but…. What happened with Monroe Park should be a warning to all Richmonders.