Huguenot Flatwater Universal Access

Please help improve universal access on the James River in Richmond, VA, so that paddlers of all abilities can use and enjoy the river.   The James River Outdoor Coalition (JROC) is building a river access point at the Huguenot Flatwater river access in the James River Park System (JRPS) which is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   The total project cost will be approximately $340,000.    So far, the $26,250 cost for pre-engineering and preparation of construction documents by a civil engineer were funded by JROC ($14,250) and the JRPS ($12,000).The resulting plans have been approved by the City of Richmond’s Urban Design Committee.

Now that we have a plan in hand, JROC is working to raise the remaining funds necessary from multiple sources - applying for grants, holding fundraisers and reaching out to the community.  A successful Go Fund Me campaign is a vital part of the funding. All of the funds raised to date  (approximately $45,000) have been a result of community support, but we have a long way to go. We hope to continue that support with this Go Fund Me.    

We hope you consider donating whatever you can! Please forward this link to anyone you think would be interested in this project. For more information on the project and JROC, see below:

The James River in the JRPS falls 110 feet over 7 miles and there is only one ADA compliant river access in the middle.  This access at Reedy Creek was previously designed and installed by JROC.  As part of JROC’s overall strategy and commitment to improve access for all park users, the proposed ADA compliant access point at Huguenot Flatwater will:

• Connect the upper 4 miles of James River with ADA compliant access
• Accomplish step two of three in connecting all 7 miles with ADA compliant access,
• Provide ADA compliant access to the flatwater portion of the river
• Open up the James River in the JRPS to users of all abilities

The plan above shows details of the new access point as well as the existing steep set of stairs.

The James River Outdoor Coalition is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 organization formed over twenty years ago to provide resources to complete improvements in and around the James River Park System and to educate and advise others on issues pertaining to the park. Since inception, JROC has supported the JRPS by doing what was needed – with volunteer labor, provision of materials, funding or sometimes all.  It includes picking up trash, building new bike trails and river access, paying for park staff educational seminars, building trail bridges and fences, funding park maps and brochures and the list goes on.  The Huguenot Flatwater Universal Access is another one of these important projects – just a little larger.

For more information on JROC visit https://jroc.net/  or email [email redacted] .