Promote attractive streetscapes
- Maintain attractive plantings along Indian River Road, including on approaches to Indian River Bridge
- Perform quarterly cleanups along Indian River Road as part of the Adopt-A-Road program.
- Advocate for implementation of safety improvements along Indian River Road including bike lanes, speed limit reduction, and crosswalks (Planning Area Study Goals A1 and A2)
Encourage sustainable gardening, landscaping, and environmental practices methods
- Increase participation rate in the River Star Homes program of the Elizabeth River Project (Planning Area Study Goal B3) from 2% to 5%
- Increase tree canopy in Indian River area by 5% of land area in 10 years (Elizabeth River Project Watershed Action 6, Planning Area Study Goal B3)
- Educate neighbors on good gardening and yard practices, replacing lawn area with gardens, reducing fertilizer use, benefits of native plants, planting trees, establishing rain gardens, living shorelines, removing invasive plants, developing wildlife habitat, “scoop the poop”, etc.
Promote and preserve a healthy and clean river, shorelines, parks, and green spaces connected to the surrounding community
- Participate in Great American Cleanup, Clean the Bay Day, International Coastal Cleanup
- Continue improvements at Indian River Park including development of park master plan, trail maintenance, care for demonstration native plant garden, and invasive species management. (Planning Area Study Goal D1)
- Establish Blue Heron Landing Park and work with partners on Adopt-A-Park efforts (Planning Area Study Goal D1)
- Continue improvements at Plymouth Park including advocating for construction of river overlook (Planning Area Study Goal D1)
- Support CBF and Elizabeth River Project goals for fishable, swimmable river
- Establish Indian River Park, Plymouth Park, and Blue Heron Landing Park as Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Work to improve pedestrian and bicycle connections within and between neighborhoods including safe crossing of Military Highway (Planning Area Study Goals A3 and A4)
- Work to establish Civic Campus around Indian River High School, Community Center, Middle School, Library (Planning Area Study Goal C2)
- Partner with Cape Henry Audubon Society on Bird Safe Hampton Roads program
- Lead nature hikes on regular basis
Energizing local business development
- Support commercial revitalization along Indian River Road corridor (Planning Area Study Goal C1) including
- advocating for City to fund facade grant program
- coordinating with Planning Department to finalize Indian River Design Guidelines
- encouraging completion of facade upgrades to shopping centers along Indian River Road
- Recruit businesses and organizations as River Star Businesses in partnership with the Elizabeth River Project.
- Continue to participate and provide comments on zoning changes impacting the community
And Support broader civic activities to improve the community.
Reference: Indian River Planning Area Study approved by Chesapeake City Council 2021
