In this Edition
- Upcoming Events
- Saturday, May 10: Indian River Park Hike
- Thursday, May 15: Monthly Meeting - Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Saturday, June 7: Clean the Bay Day
- News
- April Recap
- Volunteers Needed for Gardening
Upcoming Events
Saturday, May 10, 2025: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park
- 8:30 am to 10:30 am
- Location: Indian River Park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2003 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.
- Join us for a hike along the nature trail and through the park. Learn about the history of the park, the native trees and plants in this century old forest on the Indian River flood plain, and its value to maintaining the health of local butterfly, bird, and wildlife populations.
- Note: the forest trail has uneven surfaces and minor elevation changes.
- Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/944Niqw7MAts59vL6 (suggested but not required)
Thursday, May 15, 2025: Monthly Meeting - Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- 7 pm to 8:30 pm
- Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive
- Our guest speaker will be Lisa Renée Jennings, Hampton Roads Grassroots Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Lisa Renée leads advocacy and volunteer efforts for the Save the Bay program in our region and will provide us with an update on their latest activities.
- All are welcome. We'll also have the latest community news and updates! There will be light refreshments for the meeting.
Saturday, June 7: Clean the Bay Day
- 9AM to Noon
- Location: Indian River Park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2003 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.
- The Friends of Indian River's will be hosting Clean the Bay Day at the Indian River Park
- Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves. Long pants recommended. Some of the cleanup area is in the river flood plain which can be muddy.
- We will have water and snacks but we also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize use of plastic bottles.
- Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.
- Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/EiokEr1KHgStDVqt7 (suggested but not required)
We had two big volunteer events this month.
Just before Easter, we hosted a detachment from the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), who came to Indian River Park for their annual Volunteer Service event. Along with our dedicated Friends of Indian River volunteers and staff from Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the volunteers worked to remove invasive English Ivy in the park and weed and mulch the native plant garden at the park trailhead. A successful day all around!
On April 26, to recognize Earth Day, we were at the gardens by the Oaklette Bridge on Indian River Road to do weeding and mulching. We had a great turnout with 26 volunteers. A big thank you to local office of the Burns & McDonnell who came out with 16 volunteers! The newly weeded and mulched gardens look fantastic.
We also wish to extend a big thank you to the Burns & McDonnell Foundation Fund for a generous grant to the Friends of Indian River to support our continued efforts to improve the quality of life for all the residents of our community.
Volunteers needed for gardening
