Teamwork on the James River Park System trails
Andy Thompson
Jan 28, 2009
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This past Saturday members of the three volunteer groups focused on the health of the James River Park System—Richmond MORE, JROC, Friends of the JRPS—came together for their first-ever joint work day. Under the direction of city trails boss Nathan Burrell, they planted over $1,000 worth of native species of trees, plants and shrubs along a huge section of trail that had been rerouted. Friday’s column will be about the work and some other things going on in the park. If you haven’t been down to the JRPS, especially the Buttermilk Trail between the Nickel Bridge and Reedy Creek, go check it out. Nathan and his crews (with a special shout out to Jimmy McMillian) have done a tremendous amount. That’s also the area where photographer Jesse Peters shot these pics.
Without groups like these, the JRPS would be a very different, and much less inviting, place.
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Teamwork on the James River Park System trails.
Jan. 29, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Before the re-route, which began last spring, the trail in that area featured a couple of very tight switchbacks that were both unsustainable from an erosion perspective and difficult to maneuver for a lot of beginner and intermediate riders.
Now it features multiple grade reversals, which shunt water off the trail, stone-bottomed turns, which won’t erode, and longer but less steep climbs, which 99 percent of riders should be able to complete.
The quality of the work down there is pretty amazing. If you haven’t seen, you should check it out.
Thanks for the comment.
Jan. 28, 2009 at 05:05 PM
Why was the trail re-routed?