James River Park System

The James River Parks System (also known as James River Park or simply JRPS) is a 600-acre (240 ha) municipal park in Richmond, Virginia. It consists of multiple sections along the James River between the Huguenot Memorial Bridge in the west to a half mile (0.8 km) beyond the I-95 Bridge over the James in the east.[1] It is a part of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.[2]

"James River Park" redirects here. For the Virginia state park, see James River State Park.
Sign at James River Park System headquarters
Floating dock on the James River

History

JRPS was formed by the City of Richmond in 1972 from a number of private properties that had been donated.[3]

First Land Donation

The first property donated was a 380-acre tract obtained and donated to the city in 1966 by scout leader Charles Joseph “Joe” Schaefer. Schaefer had tried in vain to seek permission for his scouts to camp on a James River Island in 1965, and in the process, he and his former VMI roommate sought to find and secure a two-mile tract of river property to donate to the city as a public park.[4]

Creation of the JRPS in 1972

Ralph White, a former Peace Corps volunteer and National Park Service employee,[5] was hired by the City of Richmond in 1980 as one of several JRPS employees.[6] At the time the river was not in very good condition, owing to littering and years of industrial use of the river[7] White eventually became the manager of JRPS and spent a 32-year career with the city of Richmond, transforming JRPS through advocacy and engaging community groups in volunteer cleanups.[8] In December 2012, White retired and was replaced by Nathan Burrell.[9]

2009 Conservation Easement

In May 2009, a conservation easement was placed on parcels of the James River Park System. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Capitol Region Land Conservancy and the EnRichmond Foundation (formerly the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation) are the conservation easement holders. This open space and conservation easement, in general, restricts all future development in each parcel, although it does allow for regular maintenance and replacement in kind by the City of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities[10]

Sections

The number of sections of the park have expanded over time. Some sources say there are currently 19 sections.[11] From west to east, sections include the following areas:[12]

  • Huguenot Flatwater

This connects to the stretch of the James that runs from Bosher's Dam in the west to Z Dam in the east. It is a perfect place for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Nash's Island and Channing's Island, just below Bosher's and just above the Willey Bridge, are good spots to beach and chill. A sandy beach is opposite the Flatwater put in. Other islands are just above Z Dam. The fish ladder in Z Dam is a perfect place for kayaking and for paddle board surfing when the river is high.

References
  1. "About the Park - Friends of James River Park". Friends of James River Park. 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  2. Zullo, Robert (2013-04-29). "Richmond names new James River Parks system manager". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  3. Cushing, Nathan (2012-06-29). "Ralph White: caring for the James River before it was cool". RVANews. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  4. "Charles Joseph "Joe" Schaefer, a 'river rat' who donated land to create the James River Park System, dies at 86". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  5. "One with Nature". 14 January 2011.
  6. "Ralph White: Caring for the James River before it was cool". 29 June 2012.
  7. "One with Nature". 14 January 2011.
  8. "White's Rapids".
  9. "Richmond names new James River Parks system manager".
  10. "James River Park lovers checking to make sure parks are still there". 3 March 2011.
  11. "Ralph White: Caring for the James River before it was cool". 29 June 2012.
  12. http://www.jamesriverpark.org/visit-the-park/about-the-park.php

37.53°N 77.48°W / 37.53; -77.48

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