Right Around the River Blog
James River Association Finds New Office Digs at Rocketts Landing
Post Date: 10-29-2013
If we were a matchmaker, then we’d say that we couldn’t imagine a more perfect fit for our riverfront community than the newest Rocketts Landing commercial tenant, James River Association (JRA). A nonprofit organization that “serves as a guardian for the James River,” JRA has found their new office home at Rocketts Landing — and we’re thrilled to have them join our growing community.
(front of the new JRA office in 210 Rock at Rocketts Landing)
A Collaborative, Open
Office Space
“We’re moving into a more open, collaborative office space
that we’re excited is also a store front,” says Bill. “[Our Rocketts Landing
office] is giving us a new opportunity to facilitate a lot of programs right
from our backyard.”
(interior of the new, soon-to-open JRA office)
As far as furnishings go, JRA is still putting the final
touches on their new office digs, though Bill did point out their team’s plan
to hang on their wall a 6.5-foot-long model sturgeon. The replica fish is a
signature JRA decoration — and the exact type of sturgeon
that comes up the James River into downtown Richmond to breed.
Another cool JRA-office feature is the addition of two
office bicycles. Open for use by any JRA employee, Bill says they invested in
the bikes so JRA staff could take a break and hop on the (soon-to-be-finished) Virginia
Capital Trail or ride downtown to grab lunch or go to a meeting.
(JRA cleans up the James River by hosting a floating tire collection. Photo credit: JRA)
Instant James River
Access
JRA frequently hosts educational trips about the James River on their boat, and their new Rocketts Landing location offers them even easier access to run these trips out of the marina. They also host canoeing and fishing trips — which will be even more accessible to them and their visitors at our community. Bill expressed excitement about being able to offer opportunities like these to Rocketts Landing residents right in their back yard, a feature we’re certainly excited to hear!
(JRA hosts a rain-barrel-making workshop in Richmond, Virginia. Photo credit: JRA)
JRA also has an ecology school 20 miles down the James River
on the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. Through this 1300-acre island
education center, JRA “connects youth with meaningful, [Standards-of-Learning] SOL-related, hands-on
lessons on river ecology and conservation.” By basing their organization out of
Rocketts Landing, getting out on the river and down to the school is as easy as
a fish swimming in water.
Open House and Annual Meeting Oyster Roast on Oct. 30, 2013
The public is invited to check out JRA’s new office space
and learn more about the organization this Wednesday, October 30. The open house
is located in their office at 4829 Old Main Street and runs from 3:30 p.m. to
5:30 p.m. The event is free.
(JRA's Watershed Restoration Team hosts a trash collection along the James River. Photo credit: JRA)
Visitors can stay longer to attend their tented Annual Meeting and Oyster Roast from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., which includes oysters and cocktails. They will also present their annual River Hero Awards at 7:00 p.m., which honors those individuals who dedicate their efforts to improving the health of the James River. To attend, you can purchase tickets for $50 each through the James River Association’s website.
All in all, we’re excited to have James River Association at Rocketts Landing. Welcome to Richmond’s riverfront family!