Dear Friends,

As we look back on the past year in the James River Park System, one thing is unmistakably clear: you showed up! Your commitment to the Park has made 2025 a year of remarkable impact.

Because of supporters like you, Friends of the James River Park (FOJRP) hosted 30 trash clean-up events, bringing together over 500 volunteers who gave more than 1,500 hours of service to the Park. These volunteers removed thousands of pounds of trash. Their hard work made our riverbanks and riverbeds cleaner for the wildlife that call the Park home. Thanks to your support, FOJRP was also able to spend $25,000 on graffiti removal in the Park, making our trails more welcoming for millions of annual visitors.

This year, 537 citizens volunteered an additional 1,300 hours to free almost 1,000 trees in the Park from climbing invasives, improving about 18 acres of Park land from Huguenot Flatwater, to Dock Street Park. Along with these volunteer efforts, Friends dedicated over $350,000 to natural resource management, conservation, and invasive species removal, investing deeply in the Park’s long-term health and biodiversity.

At the same time, FOJRP continued our commitment to supporting the people who care for the Park every single day. Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to invest over $200,000 in projects that directly assist Park staff in their daily work. Your generosity helped fund repairs to utility roads, making it easier and safer for staff to navigate the Park’s rugged terrain. You made possible a new water fountain at Park headquarters, improvements to office space and internet connectivity, and even the purchase of a new refrigerator for staff use. And this year, with your support, Friends purchased a truck for the Invasive Species Management Team – ensuring they no longer have to rely on personal vehicles to protect the Park’s landscape.

Each of these investments, large and small, helped the James River Park function more efficiently and sustainably. As the year draws to a close, we ask for your continued support. Your end-of-year gift directly impacts the Park that all of Richmond treasures. Friends of the James River Park is working towards some big projects in 2026 like the Nature Exploration Area on Belle Isle (site pictured above), but we can’t do it alone. Together, we can ensure that the James River Park System remains a place of natural beauty, recreation, and ecological habitat for generations to come.

Thank you for showing up in 2025. And thank you for believing in the power of community to protect the places that matter.

With gratitude,

Friends of the James River Park

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