In this Edition
- Upcoming Events
- Saturday, April 12: Indian River Park Hike
- Saturday, April 26: Earth Day Gardening and Cleanup
- News
- Chesapeake City Budget
- March Recap
Upcoming Events
Saturday, April 12, 2025: Indian River Park Hike
- 8:30 am to 10:30 am
- 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. - Spring has sprung and we should find quite a few wildflowers blooming in 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/o1nMQyK5hietuM3y8 (suggested but not required)
Saturday, April 26, 2025: Earth Day Gardening and Cleanup
- From 9 AM to Noon
- Meet at Lilac Avenue and Indian River Road. Park along Lilac Avenue by the Norfolk Highlands Primary School.
- To recognize Earth Day this year, 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 and under the bridge, and working to remove some invasive English Ivy.
- 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/egnsLV8Hwahi3nRM7 (suggested but not required)
Chesapeake City Budget
The City Manager released the proposed City Capital Improvement Budget and we were please to find several new items that are positive for the Indian River area:
- (NEW) 26-300 Indian River Strategic Acquisition of Real Property - This project funds the purchase of commercial and residential property along key transportation corridors within the Indian River Planning Area to support implementation of the Indian River Planning Area Study and Redevelopment Strategy, adopted by City Council on December 21, 2021. Financial Summary: $150,000 per year for next 5 years
- (NEW) 15-300 Chesapeake Pedestrian Access Improvements - funds improvements to pedestrian crossings at 33 signalized intersections [that] include high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian signal poles, push buttons, and curb ramps with detectable warnings. Financial Summary: $4,125,000 in 2026, VDOT Reimbursement.
- Per Highway Safety Improvement Program - VDOT Smart Portal, these intersections include IR Road and Tatemstown, IR Road and Sparrow, Sparrow and Providence, Sparrow and Military Highway, Providence and Dunbarton (near Georgetown Primary), and Providence and Campostella, Border Rd and Campostella.
- (New) 20-300 Urban Forestry & Tree Inventory Plan - This will include the development of an Urban Forest Master Plan, which will inform future decisions regarding the City's tree canopy. Financial Summary: $500,000 in 2026
- (NEW) 27-300 Wayfinding Signage - This project funds the design and implementation of a scalable wayfinding sign ‘family’ consisting of entryway, gateway, and both pedestrian and vehicular wayfinding signage. This sign family will connect areas in the City to a cohesive Chesapeake identity while highlighting unique community features. - Financial Summary: $350,000 in 2026
The City Council will be taking action on the budget in May. We will be in support of these and other previously approved funding efforts to implement the Indian River Planning Area Study and improve our community. In conjunction with the pedestrian access improvements above, we'll continue to advocate for safety improvements along our area roads including a safe crossing at Blue Heron Landing Park.
With the pending completion of the Indian River Design Guidelines in the coming months, we look forward to the City releasing funding for 16-290, Indian River Façade Improvement Grant, approved in last year's budget. This competitive grant program can be another important tool to help support commercial revitalization along Indian River Road corridor. Stay tuned for more information on this program when it becomes active.
March Recap
Heron Landing Park. About 300 lbs. of litter was removed so that it won't become marine debris in our river and the Bay. A big thanks to all our volunteers including wonderful group representing the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority!
Thank you to the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council - CEIC for organizing a Great American Cleanup at the Indian River Civic Campus between the Library, Community Center, and High School during the last weekend of March. Volunteers removed several hundred pounds of trash and debris.
