Hello Friends!

Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite holidays because giving thanks is such a huge part of my job. I am constantly thinking of new ways to thank donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders for their support of our work. I also often find myself thanking people for their patience with me while I navigate some of the more complex pieces of this work. I am, in some ways, a professional “thank you artist” and I am glad to be able to have this time to remind you all how grateful I am for the opportunity to work with you to to protect, expand, and enhance the JRPS.

This year I am especially grateful for this organization and all of the great things we have been able to achieve with your support. In the past few months, we were able to play a role in adding 3.5 acres to the park, facilitated the planting of trees on Belle Isle as part of Arbor Week 2022, supported the Blue Sky Fund Hike for Kids Event, worked on planning several new park improvement projects, installed new interpretive signage on Belle Isle, and logged countless hours cleaning up the park with our volunteer groups.

Over the next few months, your donated time and money will be used to further several initiatives aimed at protecting, and enhancing the JRPS. We are currently working on projects to separate vehicle traffic from pedestrian traffic along the access road near Reedy Creek, and to add directional signage near key trail intersections. These projects will make the park safer and easier for new park users to navigate.

In April we will be launching a partnership with WRIC to make reporting on river conditions and river safety information a part of the daily news broadcasts. The WRIC River Watch, brought to you by Friends of the James River Park, will help make relevant river safety information accessible to more people. I view this service as an important part of our role in developing a culture of responsible park usage, which supports the protection and enhancement of the Park.

The Wood River Run will also be back in April. Join us April 15th for this great event again this year. Proceeds benefit Friends of the James River Park, the Christian Wood Schoarship Fund at Passages Adventure Camp, and JRPS Education programming.

There are a lot of great causes and organizations to support in Richmond. We are incredibly proud to have earned your support for our work, and we appreciate the opportunity to earn your support again this year. There are many different ways that you can give to Friends of the James River Park, and you can do that by clicking here (insert donation link). The new T-shirts are especially exciting, buy one and support the park today. Follow this link.

I plan on being out in the park hiking with my family throughout the holiday weekend, and I hope to see some of you out there too. Feel to say hello if you see us!