January Newsletter and Events

• Upcoming Events
• Thursday, January 15, 2026: Annual Meeting
• Saturday, January 17, 2026: Adopt-A-Park - Invasive Species Workshop @ Indian River Park
• News
• 2025 Year in Review
• December Recap 
• Upcoming Winter Events Flier

Upcoming Events

Thursday, January 15, 2026: Annual Meeting

• 7 pm to 8:30 pm
• Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive
• Join us for our Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition.  We will hold elections and use the meeting to brainstorm ideas on how to get more people actively involved in our efforts to improve the quality of life for all the residents of our community.   
• We will also recognize our existing volunteers and the great work they do.  There will be refreshments and desserts.   Whether you've been supporting us for years or are just curious to learn more about who we are, all are welcome to attend the meeting.
• All are welcome.  We'll also have the latest community news and updates!  There will be light refreshments for the meeting. 

Saturday, January 17, 2026: Adopt-A-Park - Invasive Species Workshop @ Indian River Park

• 
  NEW LOCATION: Meet at the Indian River Park Miller Avenue Entrance - at the south end of Miller Avenue.  GPS address 2329 Miller Avenue, Chesapeake, Virginia
• From 9:00 am to Noon. 
• Learn to identify various invasive plant species that threaten Indian River Park and natural areas across the Tidewater region.  Those found in the park include English Ivy, Chinese Privet, Multifloral Rose, Linden Viburnum, and others.  
• Then we'll have a work effort to manage some outbreaks of English Ivy. The more volunteers that come out, the more that we can accomplish! 
• Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, a hat and bring work gloves. Bring pruning clippers, loppers, screwdrivers (which are amazingly useful in prying ivy off tree trunks) and/or pruning saws if you have them.  We will have water and snacks, but we also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize the use of plastic bottles. Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/r1paWMWKGaJ4HjAa6, suggested but not required.

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News

2025 Year in Review

2025 was a year for progress along the Indian River Road corridor.  The rehabilitation of the Oaklette Bridge was completed.  The City Council approved the Indian River Design Guidelines, laying out design criteria for new development or redevelopment along Indian River Road, Providence Road, and the eastern portion of Military Highway.  The owners of the Indian River Shopping Center continued revitalization efforts with new facades, tree plantings, and expectations for the opening of a grocery store in early 2026.   Expansions or rehabilitation work continued at several other establishments along Indian River Road. And designs for safety improvements by Public Works along Indian River Roads are reported to be 90% complete, although we're still waiting to hear about implementation dates. 

The Friends of Indian River continued our volunteer and advocacy work with cleanups, gardening, civic engagement, and input to the City on planning and project implementation.  Overall, 125 volunteers contributed over 850 volunteer hours in 2025.

Please join us at our Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition on Thursday, January 15, 7 pm at Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive.  As an organization, we are very proud of all that we have accomplished last year – and over the previous 14 years.   But we can’t rest on our laurels. In 2026, we are looking to reinvigorate the organization and build our membership and active supporters.    We will use the meeting to brainstorm ideas on how to get more people actively involved in our efforts to improve the quality of life for all the residents of our community.   We will also recognize our existing volunteers and the great work they do.  There will be refreshments and desserts.   Whether you've been supporting us for years or are just curious to learn more about who we are, all are welcome to attend the meeting.

Read our full Year End Report here.

December Recap

Thank you to the dozen volunteers who braved the cold, damp morning in December to help with our Adopt-A-Road cleanup along Indian River Road.  We removed about 250 lbs. of litter and debris! 

In mid-December, about two dozen members and supporters gathered at La Hacienda Restaurant on Military Highway at Robert Hall Blvd. for a festive Holiday Dinner.  Good times and good food for all!

Upcoming Winter Event Flier