The James River Park System is the best city park in the country. There, I said it. I can’t think of any other major city in the Union that has anything even close to what we have: a generally unspoiled nature preserve spanning the majority of the city’s epicenter with connected “traditional parks” (Byrd, Maymont, and Forest Hill) that are every bit as good as Central in NYC or Piedmont in ATL. If you’ve ever hiked one if its many trails, it’s simply amazing…For a second, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, like on the Appalachian Trail, but you know damn well Mama Zu’s is less than a mile away if you prefer shrimp fra diavolo over trail mix. Â
What, you’ve never hiked JRP?! That’s cool, lots of Richmonders who’ve lived here for a long time still haven’t been experienced. A good place to start is James River Days where there is a calendar of events such as sponsored hikes. Another great resource is the Friends of the James River Parks or James River Outdoor Coalition. Please consider joining the nature social!
Two great pieces of news today: First, Richmond.com: Graziano sets aside funds for James River Park easement reports progress on the conservation easement process:
The easement is a result of a Graziano-sponsored council resolution of 2005, which calls on the City to draft and negotiate a document that would provide perpetual protection from development for the Park. Currently, there is no absolute protection from development for the Park. The easement will prohibit any type of commercial, industrial or residential development in James River Park, while allowing the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to continue to manage the Park as a wildlife and nature preserve.
Councilwoman Kathy Graziano, take a bow…Â
Second piece of good news, commercial white water rafting, it’s baaaack! (TD: Rafting will return to James River; Riverside Outfitters set to begin Saturday offering guided trips | River City Rapids: A Raft Will Run Through It). Riverside Outfitters, take a bow…Riverside (Stratford Hills Shopping Center, near Pony Pasture, 6839 Old Westham Road Richmond, VA 23225 (804) 560-0068) will be offering guided raft trips starting this Saturday filling the void when Richmond Raft Co left the business (see, Style: Fight With City May Force Raft Firm to Close | Times Dispatch: Rafting opportunities on James dry up, With Richmond Raft out of business, there is a commercial void).
I concede that, initially, Richmond Raft contractually was in the right when they fought the city for breech of contract (see their arguments…at the same time, why go after not for profits like VCU Outdoors and Friends of the James?). Once Richmond Raft’s contract expired, the city had every right to change their outfitter policy. Rarely, in anything, are monopolies ever a good thing:
Many outdoor enthusiasts and river advocates don’t have any sympathy for Kraft, who had taken the city to court to enforce a contract that essentially gave him a lock on the use of inflatable crafts on the James in Richmond. The contract wasn’t exclusive, but it required major changes to the landscape of James River Park if anyone else were allowed to accept money for guiding inflatables down the river…”Anybody who wants to should be able to take people out on the river as often as they like,” said Molly Dellinger-Wray, president of the Friends of James River Park. “If he had allowed competition, he would still be in business.”
I’m still hoping Richmond Raft gets back in the game (within the new rules). They were a great outfitter and did a lot of good for the community. Their website is still up, and the owner has hinted at compromising:
Kraft said he needed a contractual guarantee that he would be able to run raft trips down the James any day he could book them. He said the city wouldn’t do it. “They don’t ensure us access a single day of the year,” he said.
Seems like a reasonable request for Richmond Raft, Riverside Outfitters, and anyone else who wants to give it a try.