Community Involvement
The James River is the people's treasure: No one owns it, nor can anyone control it. The James River is free and the Richmond community holds high reverence for the Mighty James. While the Richmond City government has taken substantial steps to improve both the river experience and condition, a lot of movement about the James has come from the people. Whether it be entrepreneurs, local groups, or individuals, the James is kept alive by its community.
Protecting the James
The James River is increasingly reestablishing itself as the cornerstone of Richmond. People are identifying with the river, deriving beauty, meaning, and sustenance from its dancing waters. And as such, the people of this city are taking steps to protect it. Grassroots organizations, such as The Friends of the James, Envision the James, and The James River Association all lobby for the unspoken James, as well as host various clean-up events. Students from the University of Richmond are very active in volunteering with these organizations among others listed on the Additional Resources page.
Initiatives launched by the James River Association seek to conserve non-developed land on and around the James to preserve its health, in addition to hosting cleanups and rallies. The Friends of the James is a volunteer based organization that works to protect the 550 acres of James River Parks, and has established easements in these parks- protecting valuable wetland.
Connecting with the James
The James River is the reason Richmond is where it is. According to Dr. Todd Lookingbill, Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Richmond, settlers chose to populate this area because their ships could not move further upstream. This fact inherently associates the people with the river. According to Outside Magazine, Richmond is the "Best River Town in America." Richmond won this title for its people. The people of Richmond love the River and is shown by their involvement with it. Fishermen pulling up rare Atlantic Sturgeon mythicize the river, marathoners utilizing the tens of miles of trails that trace the river, city-dwellers cross the footbridge to Belle Isle and camp out on the river's rocks, kayakers enjoy the class IV rapids Richmond boasts (Richmond is the only city to have class IV rapids), artists enjoy "Art On the River" events, and fireworks dazzle above Rocket's Landing in downtown Richmond. Matthew Groff, a sophomore at the University of Richmond, explains the James as "essentially Richmond. The river provides for all people: recreation, livelihood, inspiration, and more. You can't picture Richmond without the river. The James River is Richmond."
The Dominion River Rock Festival captures Richmond's relationship best. The festival, hosted in mid-summer, has dog jumping competitions, a 5k mud-run, a 10k River Rock scramble, kayaking competitions, live music, art shows, rock climbing, mountain biking races, paddle-boarding, yoga, local vendors, shopping, and more. Richmond has established itself as a serious river city and is only increasing its connections to the Mighty James in doing so.
Living with the James
The James River provides a wealth of opportunities to all those who seek them. The James River is iconic in Richmond, portrayed in murals, art, and other mediums of expression quite frequently. But what do the citizens of Richmond do with the James? How does it affect their daily lives? It turns out, quite importantly! Businesses such Richmond Stand Up Paddleboard were founded because of the James, as well as Richmond Canal Cruises, James River Outfiters, and Discover the James. The James River provides a one-of-a-kind environment for environmental folk to simultaneously live in a city and experience the outdoors. Thoureau would have loved the recent developments occurring in Richmond; the convergence of natural and man-made coexisting in harmonious fashion was his dream and Richmond appears to be fulfilling it.