A message from Executive Director Josh Stutz:
Good morning Friends of the James River Park! I hope you all had a great holiday weekend filled with food, family, and the outdoors! I was able to spend time hiking at Pony Pasture park with my family on Friday and it was a great reminder of what the James River Park System means to so many people. I saw dozens of other people, and many of their dogs, out enjoying the trails, forests, and river that we all love so much. I am proud to be able to help protect, enhance, and expand the James River Park System, and if you are a supporter of our work then you should be too!
This is an important time for our organization. Having full-time staff dedicated to advancing the mission of FOJRP and the goals laid out in the Master Plan is going to make a difference in how the Parks are taken care of. I am optimistic about the many projects that are in our future. As we work to grow the organization and figure out what our next steps are your support becomes more important than ever.
One major improvement project we are working to support is the new handicap access ramp at the Pump House. The ramp will be built into the hillside on the north bank of the canal and will make it easier for people to get to the bridge over the canal. Currently there is only a very steep paved path to the bridge. This project is currently being funded through a mixture of State and City funding. The total combined government funding falls short of the estimated final cost of the project. This is an otherwise shovel-ready project and Friends of the James River Park is working to find ways to close a funding gap of around $50,000 to ensure that construction can begin by the start of Summer 2022. Once complete this project will make the Pump House and Pump House Park more accessible to all people, regardless of their mobility.
This Giving Tuesday we are asking you to support your James River Park System with a donation to Friends of the James River Park. These donations will be used for things like improving trails, creating new signage, expanding to new areas, and making major capital improvements to the Park. We need your help to ensure that the Park is the best that it can be, and that it will be around for future generations. If you would like to learn more about the different ways that you can support our work please feel free to contact me directly at josh@jamesriverpark.org.
Join us and make a gift to support the James River Park System today!
