Summer Newsletter and Events

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer and staying cool!

In this month's issue, we have:

• Upcoming Events
• Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park - Sat, Aug 14, 8:30 am
• September Monthly Meeting - Benefits of Trees - Thurs, Sept 16, 7 pm
• Other News
• Preview of Fall Activities
• Blue Heron Landing Park
• Moth Night Results
• Indian River Park Wildlife Sightings

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Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park

Date: Saturday, August 14, 8:30 am to 10:30 am

Location: Indian River Park entrance
at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.

We're starting a new series of hikes, tentatively on the second Saturday of each month, at Indian River Park and other local nature spots.  

Join us for our first 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 along the Indian River floodplain, 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/yrrAwibENCB2SiuX8

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September Monthly Meeting - Benefits of Trees

Date: Thursday, September 16, 7 pm
Location: TBD (we hoping to be back in person)

Our guest speaker will be Meghan Mulroy-Goldman, our local Community Forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry.  She'll be discussing the benefits of trees and we'll review the tree planting plans for the public right-of-way next to the Indian River Oaklette Bridge.

We'll also have updates on the latest community news.

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Other News

 

Preview of Fall Activities

We are still finalizing our fall calendar, but we're planning for a full calendar of volunteer events and hopefully in-person monthly meetings.   In addition to Ms. Mulroy-Goldman from the Department of Forestry in September, we looking to discuss Farmers' Markets in October and have Council Member Susan Vitale as our guest in November.    

We're looking at an event for the International Coastal Cleanup in September, the tree planting activities - volunteers will be needed - in October by the Indian River Oaklette Bridge, and our on-going gardening efforts at the Native Plant Garden at Indian River Park and the Oaklette Bridge.  We also need to do an Adopt-A-Road cleanup along Indian River Road.  

We're expecting the Indian River Planning Area Study Plan to go to the Planning Commission in September and then the City Council; this will definitely be a top priority for our group and we may be asking for folks to submit comments.  Parks, Recreation, and Tourism will also likely schedule a Public Meeting to discuss improvements for Indian River Park.  And we're keeping our eyes open for possibly another zoning application for another used car dealership.

And we're going to be doing more of the Second Saturday Hikes through the fall.  Hope to see you at these various events!

Blue Heron Landing Park

The future park along the Indian River, just east of the Indian River Oaklette Bridge, completed one of the first permitting steps with approval by the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board in late July.   There is still quite a bit of permitting work to be done and restoration work is not expected to start before 2022, but process is underway.   Here is the latest site plan for the future park.

Moth Night

We had a lot of fun with Moth Night at Indian River Park in June.   On a fine evening, 10 "citizen scientists" identified about 2 dozen species of moths and other insects at Indian River Park, including this Tulip-tree Beauty.  See more photos at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofIndianRiver/posts/4271386366260015

Indian River Wildlife

We've been updating the list of Indian River Park Wildlife Sighting on our website with data from Moth Night, eBird, iNaturalist, the 2019 BioBlitz and other sighting.   The list of different species now has 120 bird, 5 mammal 12 amphibian and reptile, 36 butterfly and moth, 9 dragonfly and damselfly, 8 spider and mite, 35 other insect, and 1 crustacean species.  See the full list at  http://www.friendsofindianriver.org/p/wildlife-in-irp.html

We always encourage you as an individual to pick up any stray litter that you come across along our roads, parking lots, and in our parks.  Every piece of trash collected is one less that causes harm to wildlife in our natural areas and waterways.  And just as important, reduce your use of single use packaging to not create litter in the first place.  Take The Pledge to keep Virginia Litter Free at https://loversnotlitter.org/pledge/

June Newsletter and Events

 In this month's issue, we have:

• Upcoming Events
• Clean The Bay Day @ Indian River Park - Sat, June 5, 9 am
• Moth Night @ Indian River Park - Sat, June 12, 9 pm
• June Monthly Meeting - Nansemond River Preservation Alliance - Thurs, June 17, 7 pm
• Other News
• Indian River Planning Area Study Update
• Proposed zoning change for Used Car Dealership Withdrawn
• Local Tree Plantings

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Clean The Bay Day/Adopt-A-Park @ Indian River Park

Date: Saturday, June 5, 9 am to Noon

Location: Indian River Park entrance
at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.

Please pre-register by clicking here https://forms.gle/bQ5bVq7dCqo2tHpN8

The Friends of Indian River's will be hosting a cleanup at Indian River Park.  This will help to spruce up the area, collect trash that will otherwise get washed into the river and impact wildlife. The city will provide garbage bags. We'll have water and snacks available. 

Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves and other items that may be useful.   There is also trash to be collected from the flood plain of the creek, which is wet; bring rubber boots if you can help in this area.  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. 

We will be following all recommended Covid-19 safety precautions in place at the time of this event.  Please wear a mask if you have not yet been fully vaccinated. 

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To speed up registration and improve social distancing at the start of the cleanup, please review and complete the online safety release form at least one day before the event.

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Moth Night @ Indian River Park

Date: Saturday, June 12, 9 PM to 10:30 PM

Location: Indian River Park entrance
at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.

We're working with the Butterfly Society and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism to host a Moth Night at Indian River Park.  At the event we'll attract, identify, and document moths, like the tuliptree silkmoth pictured here. 

This will be after dark, so please bring a flashlight.

We will be following all recommended Covid-19 safety precautions in place at the time of this event.  Please wear a mask if you have not yet been fully vaccinated. 

Event is limited to 25 persons.  Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/QENiGRchbJ4z6kcd8.

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June Monthly Meeting - Nansemond River Preservation Alliance

Date: Thursday, June 17, 7 pm
Location: Zoom Meeting, Pre-register

Our guest speaker will be Elizabeth Taraski with Nansemond River Preservation Alliance.  It will be a chance to hear what this like-minded organization is doing in Suffolk and gets some ideas for ways to improve our programs here in Chesapeake.

We'll have updates on the latest community news.

Please pre-register for the event to get the Zoom meeting URL. https://forms.gle/WB3xX8EsRDC4Kezy7

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Other News

Indian River Planning Area Study Public Feedback

The City was collecting comments on the final draft of the Indian River Planning Area Study in May.  The Study is a proposed strategic plan for our community.

The Study laid out a plan with a strong, interconnected combination of actions that, when implemented, should improve the quality of life of our community.   Key themes that we support throughout the Plan include:

- Redesign and revitalization of Indian River Road, including the Indian River Shopping Center, as our Main Street

- Preservation of the residential character of our community

- Interconnecting the community with parks, the civic campus, and open space

- Increasing the overall environmental quality of the community through increased tree canopy, natural areas and shorelines, and green infrastructure.

The Planning Department will review all comments received and factor them into the next draft of the plan.  That version will then be presented to Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration during formal public hearings.   Those are expected to happen over the summer.  

Read more about the Study and our response to it at http://www.friendsofindianriver.org/2021/05/action-alert-indian-river-planning-area.html

Zoning Change for Used Car Dealership was Withdrawn by the applicant and did not proceed to the City Council. 

Tree Plantings!  Thank you Bethany Baptist Church in Campostella, Oaklette United Methodist Church, and everyone involved for a pair of tree plantings for Earth Week back in April.  The effort was coordinated by one of our members, who will also be the new Tree Board Chair for the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council.  Altogether, 31 trees were planted at Bethany Baptist Church and Oaklette United Methodist Church.   The trees were a mix of native and select non-native trees provided by the Chesapeake Extension Office from their nursery.   Church members helped with the planting and will now care for the trees as they grow and flourish, doing their part for the Care of Creation.  

The Elizabeth River Project has several programs to help home owners upgrade their yards to become better stewards of a healthy environment. The Friends of Indian River is stepping up to provide a little extra funding support for such projects in the And now in the Indian River area of Chesapeake.  Such projects include creating rain gardens, vegetated shoreline buffers, and living shorelines. See the flier in the attached image for more info, visit https://elizabethriver.org/river-star-homes or contact us at info@friendsofindianriver.org 

We always encourage you as individual to pick up any stray litter that you come across along our roads, parking lots, and in our parks.  Every piece of trash collected is one less that causes harm to wildlife in our natural areas and waterways.  And just as important, reduce your use of single use packaging to not create litter in the first place.  Take The Pledge to keep Virginia Litter Free at https://loversnotlitter.org/pledge/

May Newsletter and Events

In this month's issue, we have:

• Upcoming Events
• Indian River Planning Area Study Public Feedback - thru Sun, May 23
• May Monthly Meeting - Living Shorelines - Thurs, May 20, 7 pm
• Clean The Bay Day @ Indian River Park - Sat, June 5, 9 am
• Moth Night @ Indian River Park - Sat, June 12, 9 pm
• June Monthly Meeting - Nansemond River Preservation Alliance - Thurs, June 17, 7 pm
• Other News
• Action Alert: Proposed zoning change for Used Car Dealership
• Chesapeake City Budget
• Adopt-A-Park Update

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Indian River Planning Area Study Public Feedback

Date: Monday, May 3 thru Sunday May 23
Location: Online

The Indian River Planning Area Study is a proposed strategic plan for our community to  achieve the vision of being a place known for its well-connected communities and vibrant commercial areas, to identify ways to enhance overall quality of life in the area, and to accommodate a broad range of future mobility options.  It looks to embrace the City’s Comprehensive Plan and its three cornerstones: responsible growth, infrastructure, and quality of life.

We've been working with the City's Planning Department for over a year to develop the draft plan.  The Planning Department will be taking feedback on the proposal through May 23.  To see the draft plan, the associated presentation, and to submit comments, visit https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/city-departments/departments/Planning-Department/Planning-Library/Indian-River-Military-Highway-Corridor-Study.htm

Also, we at the Friends would love to hear your thoughts as we finalize our response.  One area we're going to be focusing on is tightening up the Implementation section at the end of the document so that we all have clear understanding of when we can expect these plan's goals to happen.   Send us your thoughts at info@friendsofindianriver.org

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May Monthly Meeting - Living Shorelines

Date: Thursday, May 20, 7 pm
Location: Zoom Meeting, Pre-register

Our guest speaker will be Joe Rieger from the Elizabeth River Project discussing the latest advances in Living Shoreline design.

We'll have updates on the latest community news and take some time to discuss the Indian River Planning Area Study.

Please pre-register for the event to get the Zoom meeting URL. https://forms.gle/GqimXTU48K5fGGrb6.

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Clean The Bay Day/Adopt-A-Park @ Indian River Park

Date: Saturday, June 5, 9 am to Noon

Location: Indian River Park entrance
at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.

Please pre-register by clicking here https://forms.gle/bQ5bVq7dCqo2tHpN8

The Friends of Indian River's will be hosting a cleanup at Indian River Park.  This will help to spruce up the area, collect trash that will otherwise get washed into the river and impact wildlife. The city will provide garbage bags. We'll have water and snacks available. 

Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves and other items that may be useful.   There is also trash to be collected from the flood plain of the creek, which is wet; bring rubber boots if you can help in this area.  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. 

We will be following all recommended Covid-19 safety precautions in place at the time of this event.  Please wear a mask if you have not yet been fully vaccinated. 

To speed up registration and improve social distancing at the start of the cleanup, please review and complete the online safety release form at least one day before the event.

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Moth Night @ Indian River Park

Date: Saturday, June 12, 9 PM to 10:30 PM

Location: Indian River Park entrance
at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.

We're working with the Butterfly Society and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism to host a Moth Night at Indian River Park.  At the event we'll attract, identify, and document moths, like the tuliptree silkmoth pictured here. 

This will be after dark, so please bring a flashlight.

We will be following all recommended Covid-19 safety precautions in place at the time of this event.  Because we will be gathering together, masks will be required for all attendees.

Event is limited to 25 persons.  Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/QENiGRchbJ4z6kcd8.

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June Monthly Meeting - Nansemond River Preservation Alliance

Date: Thursday, June 17, 7 pm
Location: Zoom Meeting, Pre-register

Our guest speaker will be Elizabeth Taraski with Nansemond River Preservation Alliance.  It will be a chance to hear what this like-minded organization is doing in Suffolk and gets some ideas for ways to improve our programs here in Chesapeake.

We'll have updates on the latest community news.

Please pre-register for the event to get the Zoom meeting URL. https://forms.gle/v2GaewWM1ER5ZKh29

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Other News.

Zoning Change for Used Car Dealership - 

Based on the recommendation of the Planning Staff - and the comments you all submitted last month - the Planning Commission voted 9-0 to Deny the proposed zoning for another Used Car Dealership at the corner of Indian River Road and Elder Ave.  Thank you to everyone who submitted comments.  But the City Council has the final say on the application and will review the proposed request at one of its May meetings.   As soon as it is scheduled, we'll put out another Action Alert and request folks to send comments to the City Council.

One key goal of the Indian River Planning Area Study is to revitalize the business district along Indian River Road, re-establish it as our "Main Street", and make it a much more walkable, bikeable, and attractive destination for the more than 30,000 residents who live nearby.  Another Used Car Dealership is not consistent with this goal.  We are advocating for land uses that support the revitalization of the local community as recommended in the draft plan, which is why we have been opposed to this zoning change.

The Chesapeake City Budget is being reviewed by the City Council right now and they will be holding another public hearing on it on May 11.  Some highlights in the  Capitol Improvement Budget that affect our area:

• Blue Heron Landing Park and Canoe Launch - continues funding development of new park, totaling $906K thru 2023.
• Open Space and Recreation Program - funds playground throughout City; includes call-out for Splash Park to be installed at Cuffee Center.  
• Norfolk Highlands Elevated Tank Rehabilitation - $1.5M slated for 2026
• Sewer: Gracie Road Force Main Relocation - $1.28M slated for 2026
• Water Renewals: Waterline Upgrades - Phase II - citywide including North Indian River
• Broadlawn Apartments (Stormwater) Outfall Improvements (Campostella) - $1.82M for 2022
• Citywide Trails and Open Space Connectivity Plan (Citywide) - $375K
• Norfolk Highlands Drainage Improvements - $1.2M for 2022-2023
• Oaklette Bridge (Indian River Road) - Replacement/Repairs - $3.446M for 2022     https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/city-departments/departments/Public-Works-Department/Active-Public-Works-Projects/active-transportation-street-projects/Oaklette-Bridge-Rehabilitation.htm
• Residential Traffic Calming Program (Citywide) - $100K for 2022 

Also the Operating Budget finally provides funding for developing and adopting an Urban Forest  Management Plan and filling a new Urban Forester position on staff.  We've been advocating for this for some time.

Thank you to the nine volunteers who came out for our Adopt-A-Park event in April to work on the Native Plant Garden.  We cleared the winter weeds from the garden area and made ready the area for the summer.  Black-eyed Susans, Bee Balm, Coneflowers, Yarrow, and Irises and more are starting to come up.

We always encourage you as individual to pick up any stray litter that you come across along our roads, parking lots, and in our parks.  Every piece of trash collected is one less that causes harm to wildlife in our natural areas and waterways.  And just as important, reduce your use of single use packaging to not create litter in the first place.  Take The Pledge to keep Virginia Litter Free at https://loversnotlitter.org/pledge/