The purpose of this monthly newsletter is to keep Foundation partners and affiliate groups better informed with monthly updates on our activities, upcoming meetings, and other news of interest.  Your input is welcome.  If you have content to add to a future newsletter, wish to subscribe, or want to unsubscribe, please contact the Foundation webmaster/secretary, Karen Townsend at KarenTownsend@rrpfoundation.org.

Board of Directors Meeting Summary - Wednesday February 15, 2006, 8:15 am
Chimborazo Park House, 3200 E. Broad St.

Foundation President Casey Cockerham called the Foundation Board Meeting to Order

Board members and staff introduced themselves to John R. Pope, new director of the department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. Prior to his Richmond appointment, Mr. Pope served as Chief of the West Virginia State Parks system.

Larry Miller, interim deputy director of the department, outlined the following upcoming meetings:

• Public comments will be heard regarding the planned placement of Conservation Easements on the James River Parks System, at a meeting at the Byrd Park Roundhouse on Tuesday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m.
• Mayor Wilder will conduct a meeting regarding cultural facilities at the Landmark Theater on Thursday, February 16.
• A citizens’ meeting will be held at the Stone House in Forest Hill Park on February 23 regarding the installation of gates in Byrd Park.

Casey Cockerham, Foundation president, reported that the next meeting of the Foundation will be held on March 15 at Reedy Creek Park, and will include the strategic planning meeting.  Committee heads will come prepared to report on what their groups did this past year, and what should be focused on for the coming year.  Mr. Cockerham also thanked the Foundation members for their efforts in making the annual Partners’ Luncheon a success.

Carl Otto, Foundation treasurer, reported that:

• 1099’s for 2005 have been distributed.
• Audit letters for partners regarding the status of their accounts and letters for donors for tax purposes have been formatted.
• 4th quarter 2005 partner statements are in progress.

John Zeugner, Foundation Executive Director, reported that:

• The Foundation is looking to fill 3 – 4 member slots. Potential candidates should be referred to Casey Cockerham.
• He is continuing to work on finding a timely way to notify partners of deposits to their accounts.
• The Forest Hill tree planting project, sponsored in part by Philip Morris, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 25, with opening ceremonies commencing at 9:00 a.m. at Shelter 1 in Forest Hill Park.
• A church near Bryan Park will conduct a cleanup and landscaping project near the end of March.
• The Department of Forestry will conduct a 5K walk/run event in Bryan Park at the end of April.

Peak Experiences submitted its annual check to the Foundation, totaling 6% of their revenues from the Ropes Course on Belle Isle. These funds are distributed between the department’s Summer Camps ‘N’ Kids program (50%); the Friends of James River Park (25%); and the Foundation (25%), for its operating expenses.

Ralph White, naturalist for P, R, & CF, and members of the James River Outdoor Coalition, built a take-out station at 14th Street in James River Park. JROC and Friends of James River Park requested the Foundation to contribute to this project. Mr. Zeugner had reminded them that we would be making a distribution of the Belle Isle Ropes Course money (see above) in early February, and that $1,000 of that could be earmarked for the bills on this project.

It was announced that the Bike/Walk Conference, originally scheduled as a separate event, will combine with other events, including the Fish Festival, for an event to be presented on April 22 at the south end of Mayo Bridge.

It was briefly discussed that Dogwood Dell will be celebration its 50th season this year; the kick-off event is June 9th. Also, Parks and Rec month is scheduled for July, and the City and Dept are always searching for funding underwriters for the fireworks program on July 4th. What can Foundation do to help? Let’s discuss further at Strategic Planning retreat.

Pat Daniels reported that:

• The Monroe Park Advisory Council has plans for renovations and modifications to the existing park, including volunteer assistance from VCU.
• The Fan District Association and Fan Womans’ Club will conduct their annual cleanup on April 8, and have designated April 25 as the deadline for “trim your own liriope”.

Karen Townsend reported that Luke McCall has been hired as the second city arborist, and that applications are being accepted for a new urban forestry manager, the position previously held by Karl Pokorny.

Doris Hite reported that the Unity Civic League is interested in assisting with projects, and will discuss department opportunities with Larry Miller.

Mary Lois Mitchum commended the various parks’ Friends groups for all of their efforts and activity, and mentioned the exciting programs planned by recreation centers for the summer.

Mr. Pope made a few more informal remarks about some of his ideas for the City-wide park system, such as developing a more comprehensive signage system and better directional signs, and would like to see maps and kiosks in the big and mid-sized parks as well.  He wants to see a park “needs” inventory performed, and a practical gift catalog developed as well (before April 15th?).  He wants to see the Department forge better relationships with P & R Citizens’ Advisory Board, and others (friends groups, community service folks, etc).  He would like to see the Department development of endowments to help with funding & maintaining parks, rec centers, and more. He related that the State Park System in West VA became real experts at raising money for parks, and would like to do same here. (He helped upgrade “user fee” costs to provide for better maintenance and improvement funding). He would like to appeal to the region’s larger corporations, law offices, and CPAs to enlist their support.

Calendar of Upcoming Board Meetings and Other Events

March 15, 2006 - James River Park Visitors Center (Strategic Planning)
April, 19 2006 - Maymont
May 17, 2006 - T B Smith
June 21, 2006 - Belle Isle Visitors Center

Regular board Meetings are held at 8:15 am on the third Wednesday of each month.  Locations vary as noted above.  Partners are cordially invited to join any or all Board Meetings.  For directions, please refer to the City's web page for community center information.

Attention All Partners - Recreation and Parks Advisory Board

Hilda Braswell, the new Chair of the Richmond Recreation & Parks Advisory Board has asked us to spread the word that the Advisory Board has their retreat scheduled for Saturday, March 11th, from 9am to 3:30 at Byrd Parks Round House.  There will be a Roundtable discussion with Friends groups, from 1:30pm to 3:30.  This is a great opportunity to try to involve the Advisory Board with your group’s accomplishments and plans.  Bring show and tell materials. Let them know which parts of the Departments, and other groups, you are working with.

Also, there are numerous vacancies on the Richmond Recreation & Parks Advisory Board in the following districts: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9. They wish to recruit good people interested in the City’s parks, recreation & community facilities. Please spread the work that these vacancies exist. Their group meets in City Hall, on the second Thursdays, starting at 6pm. Please call LaShawn Hopson at 646-5698, or contact her thru HOPSONLR@CI.RICHMOND.VA.US

Partner News

From Stacy Moulds of Tricycle Gardens...

Please join the American Community Gardening Association & The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for the GROWING COMMUNITIES WORKSHOP in Church Hill on Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th.  This is a two-day leadership workshop on community building, leadership, and organizational development through community greening projects.  Topics covered will be community organizing, leadership development, grassroots fundraising basics, asset-based community development, communications planning, coalition building, and urban forestry topics.

For registration information:  http://www.acb-online.org/event.cfm?EVENT_ID=624

From Jerry Miller of Friends of Larus Park...

The Friends of Larus Park group was responsible for having the Larus property officially recognized as a City park a few years ago.  Now that the Friends group is officially organized, we expect to work on issues such as trail development, parking, overall park maintenance and other issues that may impact the park.  The Friends of Larus Park extends an open invitation to attend and participate in our meetings.  We convene approximately every other month.

There is an immediate issue that has generated significant community discussion--- parking accommodations.  At our most recent meeting, Friends of Larus Park voted to encourage the City to make every effort to accommodate parking near the Fire Station on Huguenot Road and to discourage any parking in the rear of the park by Stony Point School.  We are concerned that the provision of parking in the rear of the park by the School, an extraordinarily dark and isolated area in the evening, would undoubtedly create at best nuisance problems, at worst serious criminal infractions.  However, the area in the vicinity of the Fire Station is well lighted, policed and well trafficked.

Resourceful Links for Partner Groups

Each month we include links to a few websites that might prove helpful or informative to our partner groups...

Bette Midler heads up the New York Restoration Project, a group that reclaims parks for the people. As Bette says, "To restore is human, to maintain divine. And believe me, I know a little something about maintenance! - In this auspicious year-NYRP's 10th anniversary, as well as my own 60th birthday-I am keenly aware that the health and vibrancy of our city's green open spaces is not measured in one-time snapshots but over the long term."