Wish List for James River Parks

I love the James River and spend a lot of my free time kayaking, swimming, biking and hiking wherever I can in Richmond.

I am also dedicated to several  volunteer groups that help clean, maintain and restore some of the river's best features.

Many people in those groups have a good sense of the best ways we can improve the way we utilize the river and its resources -- and ways to make those visions a reality.

The James River Park System is now protected by a conservation easement that limits development, but that doesn't stop us from developing new ways to enjoy ourselves when we visit.

I've got a Top 10 Wish List of the things I'd love to see happen in our treasured park system.

Here are the first five items on the list. Check back next week for the remaining five.

Bridge crossing at Manchester Dam locks

The view of the Manchester Dam walkway from Brown's Island.

There is a scenic footbridge that runs over the old Manchester Dam between Brown's Island on the north side and the Manchester climbing wall on the south side of the James River. Chris Hull, president of the James River Outdoor Coalition, has suggested it be renovated and returned to use.

The first portion of the walkway has been repaired and is part of the April 3, 1865, Civil War historic display-a great place to see the river and the Richmond skyline. The remainder of the rusty walkway is intact, with at least two sections removed to keep people off.

Extending it could create many more ways to enjoy and view the river and the downtown skyline. Imagine all the fun ways this walkway could be used with all the fantastic events and adventure games that Richmond hosts, not to mention the daily walkers that frequent the area.

Boardwalk at Pipeline Rapids

View of the Pipeline Rapids and CSX viaduct from the Manchester Bridge.

The Pipeline walkway is the perfect spot to see a Great Blue Heron.

The catwalk at Pipeline Rapids walkway.

I think the Pipeline Rapids walkway is downtown Richmond's best kept secret. It's been open to the public for five years, but unless you cross it during an event on Brown's Island, it's often just you and the raging James River. It is a mix of the wild, natural river and the urban landscape of the bustling city.

In 2008, meetings for the creation of the Downtown Master Plan called for the building of a boardwalk under the CSX viaduct to allow more people to safely take in the views at Pipeline. The walkway gets its name because of the large city water pipeline running the length of the metal catwalk.

It's a wonderful place to watch the Great Blue Heron rookery and paddlers in the white water rapids of Pipeline.

Make downtown islands part of the James River Park System



A view of the downtown skyline from the islands west of Mayo Island.

Mayo Island could be a center of outdoor activity from downtown Richmond.

The Master Plan also touched on the islands across from Pipeline, especially Mayo Island: "Mayo Island should be acquired by the City, physically overhauled, and promoted as public open place."

There is a recycling business on the western side of the bridge on Mayo Island and an office and parking lot on the eastern side.

There was a time that the island held concerts, haunted houses and even baseball games. Make the islands part of the James River Park System and let everyone enjoy the area. It would be great to see Mayo and the other islands (Devil's Kitchen, Shad, Vauxall and Baileys) returned to a more natural state.

Boat access to the Haxall Canal



Open up the canal to paddlers, from Christopher Newport's ‘Cross' monument to Brown's Island!

I want to see paddlers in the Haxall Canal. Granting access would allow folks who frequent the class III-IV rapids to be a visible part of the downtown scene.

Forming a circuit would require a small amount of money to build a dock and maintenance and would provide a benefit to the city.

Entering the canal from Christopher Newport's "Cross" monument at 12th and Byrd streets near Pipeline, it would be about a half-mile paddle to the dock at Brown's Island before a short portage to Tredegar Beach.

Paddlers could park nearby and play in the river as long as they want without needing a second vehicle-the beauty of the circuit. Why have all these expensive and cool toys like the canal walk and the canal if we can't use them?

Put the Great Shiplock back to work

Would opening the canal along Dock Street bring the boats?

The concept of using the locks again to allow boats to access the canal again may seem unnecessary, but this is a wish list. Manager Ralph White has many dreams for the great historic treasures preserved by the park system that may never happen.

The lock at the Great Shiplock Park remains intact and White envisions having boat slips available below the CSX railway viaduct along Dock Street. Combine the large amount of upscale living along Tobacco Row with the beginning of the Capitol Trail to Williamsburg here; there is an opportunity to expand this location into an even greater draw.

Website: www.virginiacapitaltrail.org

That's it for now. Check back next week for the remaining five items on the list.

What would you like to see at the James River Park System? Add to our wish list and post your suggestions in the Comments section!

This is the fourth in a series on exploring the James River with Phil Riggan, Executive Producer of New Media for NBC12.com.  You can see more on our River Guide. He writes his own blog at Richmond on the James.

You can check out his last installment here: Tubing Guide to the James.

And Biking in Downtown Richmond.