April Newsletter and Events

• Upcoming Events
• Saturday, April 11: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park
• Saturday, April 18: Adopt-A-Park @ Indian River Park
• Saturday, May 2, 2026: Clean the Bay Day
• News
• Earth Month
• Special Election - Redistricting Referendum
• March Recap

Upcoming Event

Saturday, April 11: 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.) 
• 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/okbSRpfb6NCmXbTg8 (suggested but not required)

Saturday, April 18: Adopt-A-Park @ Indian River Park

• From 9:00 am to Noon.  
• Location: Indian River Park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2003 Rokeby Ave.) 
• We will focus on two efforts this day:
1. Weeding and cleaning up the native plant garden at the park entrance area.
2. Invasive plant control in the park.  This will focus on hand-pulling young Linden Viburnum plants and 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. Hoes and other weeding tools will be useful.  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/75kg9tNRWNfU6wcL8, suggested but not required.

Saturday, May 2, 2026: Clean the Bay Day

• 
  From 9 AM to Noon
• Meet at Lilac Avenue and Indian River Road. Park along Lilac Avenue by the Norfolk Highlands Primary School.
• For Clean the Bay Day, we will be working around Oaklette Bridge and Blue Heron Landing Park.  We will be weeding and mulching the roadside gardens, doing a cleanup along the Park shoreline, under the bridge, and along Indian River Road.
• Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves and other items that may be useful.  Bring your favorite hand weeding tool, if you have one. 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/ZKDmYu7zyNF9Z2Jf6 (suggested but not required)

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News

Earth Month

Our partners at the Chesapeake Sustainability Network have documented a ton of stuff happening in Chesapeake for Earth Month, including cleanups, Chesapeake Recycles Day, plant sales, Big Tree Tour, Fix-It-Fair, nature walks and contests.  A few events they are highlighting include:

• Saturday, April 18, Earth Day Festival @ Lakeside Park
• Sunday, April 19, The Lorax Movie “Speak for the Trees” screening @ Central Library
• Tuesday, April 21, Earth Day Proclamation at the City Council Meeting

For the formal Earth Day Proclamation on April 21, 6:30 pm, we would love to fill the City Council Chamber with people who care for the environment.  Come out, wear your favorite environmental t-shirt, or something green or blue, and join us in standing up for a Greener Chesapeake!

Get the full schedule of events for the entire month here and check back for updates - more events are still being added!

Special Election - Redistricting Referendum

Early Voting is underway at Registrar’s Office, 411 Cedar Road, Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm; also Saturday, April 11 and April 18, 9 am-5 pm.  The last day for early voting is April 18.  In person at your regular voting precinct is on Tuesday, April 21, 7 am-7 pm.  To see the sample ballot and get more voter information, visit https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1055/Sample-Ballot

March Recap

The Friends of Indian River supported two clean-ups in March.  On March 21, 14 volunteers came out for our Adopt-A-Road around the bridge, at Blue Heron Landing Park, and along Indian River Road.  About 250 lbs. of litter were collected.  On March 28, we teamed up with Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council for the Great American Cleanup.  8 volunteers removed about 150 lbs. of trash plus 1 microwave oven we pulled from the lake.

Photo by Bob Ruegsegger for the Virginian-Pilot

The Virginian-Pilot published a great article highlighting Indian River Park and our Second Saturday Hikes.  As one visitor was quoted in the article, “I come here to enjoy all of the different types of trails they have. I like to see the wildlife and the different types of birds,... it’s such a unique piece of land.”   Read the full article in the e-Pilot (subscription).

A huge Thank You to everyone who donated during our spring membership drive.  We blew past our fundraising goal, raising $2750.  The Friends of Indian River is an all-volunteer, local, 501(c)(3) non-profit, and we depend on member contributions to advance our mission to improve the quality of life for all the residents of the Indian River neighborhoods.  You can become a member, renew your membership, or just make a contribution online at http://www.friendsofindianriver.org/p/membership.html

Have an idea for an article for our newsletter?  Send your submission, max 250 words, to us at info@friendsofindianriver.org along with a photo and we'll consider it for our next edition.