- Upcoming Events
- Thursday, Jan 16, 2025: Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation
- Saturday, Jan 18, 2025: Adopt-A-Park - Invasive Species Workshop
- News
- 2024 Year in Review
- "Main Street" Holiday Lights Contest Winners
- 1-Question Social Media Survey
- December Recap
Upcoming Events
Thursday, Jan 16, 2025: Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation
- From 7 pm to 8:30 pm
- Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive
- Please join us for our Annual Meeting. We will hold elections of officers for 2025. We will also use this meeting recognize our volunteers and the great work they do.
- We are also expecting guest speakers from Hampton Roads Transit to tell us the latest on the Connecting Chesapeake plans and a guest speaker representing the Indian River Shopping Center. Details to follow.
- We'll also have the latest community news and updates! There will be light refreshments after the meeting.
- 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.
Saturday, Jan 18, 2025: Adopt-A-Park - Invasive Species Workshop
- From 9:00 am to Noon.
- Location: Indian River Park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2003 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.
- 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 clear some outbreaks of the 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. We'll be working both to remove Ivy on the ground and on trees. 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 use of plastic bottles. Participants under 18 years of age must have alt supervision.
- Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/AipQdF6itUaEM82B8, suggested but not required.
2024 Year in Review
Our biggest news for 2024 was the grand opening of Blue Heron Landing Park in October. The Friends of Indian River initiated efforts to create a canoe/kayak launch at this location nearly 10 years ago. In diligently working with the City of Chesapeake and other partners, we were thrilled to see what was a rubble-filled lot turned into a living shoreline complete with a boardwalk and ADA-accessible canoe/kayak launch. The new park is proving to be very popular with locals, anglers, and paddlers. One key concern we continue to push is enabling safe access across Indian River Road. Plans for safety improvements along the length of Indian River Road were included in the Indian River Small Area Plan and funding was approved in 2022, but implementation has lagged. This will be a key focus for 2025.
Some highlights of our accomplishments in 2024 include:
- Support Adopt-A-Park at Indian River Park, Adopt-A-Spot Trees and Gardens at Oaklette Bridge, and Adopt-A-Road along Indian River Road, Clean The Bay Day, Internation Coastal Cleanup, Business Area Planters
- Input on multiple City Planning initiatives including Indian River Design Guidelines and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area boundaries
- 1350 lbs. Trash Removed over Multiple Cleanups
- 4 Nature Walks and 1 History Walk
- 4 Guest Speakers
- 1 High School Scholarship Awarded
- Recognized for Sustained Distinguished Performance as an Elizabeth River Project River Star Business
- Overall, 93 Volunteers performed 900+ Volunteer Hours
We couldn't accomplish any of this without dedicated members, volunteers, and supporters. Please join us for our Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Event on Thursday, January 16 at 7 pm at Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive. We'll recognize our volunteers and the great work they do at this meeting. See meeting invite above.
Read more details about our work in 2024 in our Annual Report at https://www.friendsofindianriver.org/2024/12/2024-year-in-review.html
"Main Street" Holiday Lights Contest Winners
We were excited to bring back our “Main Street” Indian River Holiday Lighting & Decoration Contest for the 2024 Holidays. Our judges gave top marks to Midway Veterinary Hospital, Shadez of Beauty Hair Salon, and Moulton Tax Service. Honorable mentions go to Trade Team USA, NAE Credit Union, Wickers Crab Pot, Botanica Spiritual House, Mobile Pig-Nic Catering / The Pig Shop Restaurant, Affordable Transmission, Beasley's Farm Market, Sky Lounge, and Crossroad Cleaners.
One Question Social Media Survey
The Friends of Indian River have a Facebook page and a limited presence on Instagram. We'd like to know what social media platforms you use. Take our one question survey and let us know at https://forms.gle/VcgamTqZv6W4tce4A
December Recap
December was a quite month for the Friends. We had a single volunteer event to remove invasive English Ivy at Indian River Park. A big thank you to the volunteers who came out for that event.
