Friends of Forest Hill Park, Richmond VA

What could be much better than spending a lazy spring Sunday afternoon in Richmond’s Forest Hill Park? Richmonders have done it for decades, but for the past seven years, “Sunday in the Park with Friends” has taken on a special new meaning.

This fun family event, sponsored by the Friends of Forest Hill Park, will be held on Sunday, April 29, from noon until 5 p.m. Last year, the event was “stormed-out” by Hurricane Irene, but is back this year bigger and better than ever.

In the spirit of Forest Hill Park’s former days as an early 20th century amusement park, there will be plenty of old-fashioned fun and games for kids, as well live music, and artisan vendors. On April 29, the park will explode with balloons, bubbles, bands, and bikes.  All activities  are free.

“Green Alley” will feature displays and activities with an environmental or conservation theme by local non-profit groups. You’ll also enjoy browsing the booths of local crafts people. Richmond Police, Fire, and Sheriff’s departments will also be on hand.

The kids will enjoy an inflated Moon Bounce, clowns, face painting, carnival games like ring toss and bean bag toss, water balloons, make-and-take crafts, Jonathan the Juggler, puppets and other story telling and other activities.

Bands include I.C.B., Beer Ticks and Johnny Change. RVA Hoop Lovers will be present with lots of hoola hoops. Guests can enjoy tours of the historic Stone House, along with displays about the park’s history.  Bring a pole for catch and release fishing on the lake.
For the second time, Richmond Police Officer Stacy Rogers is holding a bike rodeo for kids to teach bicycling safety and street skills. Bike repairs and freebies also offered.

We invite families to bring a picnic and enjoy the park. Treats and ice-cold bottled water will be provided FREE. Food vendors will also be on hand for you to purchase other edible goodies. The city requests that four-legged family members at the picnic remain on a leash at all times!

For more information or to volunteer to help with activities during the event, contact Lee Shewmake at 230-7684 or leeshewmake@yahoo.com.

See you in the park on Sunday, April 29!

The March Friends of Forest Hill Park work day will be on Sunday, March 25th, from 1-4 p.m.
We will continue efforts at invasive plant removal and spread mulch in the old Azalea Garden area.
A group of VCU students will be coming to assist.  Together we can get a lot done in a short time!

Meet at the Stone House a 1 p.m.
Bring your garden gloves.  Also bring a shovel and pruners if you have them.
Long pants and long sleeves are recommended even though it may be warm.
If you are allergic to poison ivy, please let us know that day so we can steer you away from areas with that plant.
We request that you bring your own water to drink.

If you cannot join us this month, we look forward to seeing you at a work day in the future.
If you have questions please e-mail Suzette at  slyon10@yahoo.com.

We will be spreading mulch and removing ivy in the Old Azalea Garden area.

Those who know where the pyramid in the Old Azalea Garden is can come directly there. Others meet at the Stone House at 2 PM.

Bring your garden gloves and wear long sleeves.
Those who are able please bring shovel and pruners.

During this annual event we will identify and count species seen in the park and report our results to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  Data collected across the United States and Canada is of value to scientists who study changes in bird populations over time.  The count in our park usually lasts 2 – 3 hours and we typically see about  25 – 30 species.

Friday, February 17 at 8 am.  Meet in the picnic shelter parking lot. Anyone can participate.  For more information, contact Suzette Lyon at slyon10@yahoo.com.

Dressed up for Halloween

Calling all pampered pooches and hounds from hell! Start designing your pooch’s costume now and get a leg up on the competition! Arrive at the circular drive in front of the Stone House in Forest Hill Park on Sunday, October 30, at 1 p.m. for the second annual “Halloween Howl” sponsored by Friends of Forest Hill Park. There will be plenty of games for you and your canine companion, leading up to the canine costume parade. Prizes will be awarded in the costume parade and the competitions, and there’ll be refreshments for you and your dog. It’s all free.
Even if you don’t have a dog, come out and cheer our neighborhood pups on! For more information or to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Sally Kannemeyer at skannemeyer@comcast.net or Lee Shewmake at leeshewmake@yahoo.com.
Halloween Howl benefits Ring Dog Rescue, the non-profit organization that gets dogs out of the fighting ring and into loving homes.  Donations accepted at the event.

What Is All This Anyway?

Volunteers are needed to help weed the Tennis Court Garden in preparation for a fall planting of native shrubs and perennials.

Sunday, September 18, 3 – 5 PM

Meet at the tennis court.  Bring your favorite garden tools for weeding and your gloves.

Music in the Park starts at 5 PM that day.  We will have water, soap, and paper towels for hand washing for those who want to enjoy the music after weeding.

Purple Coneflowers

Because of the probability of bad weather this weekend, Sunday in the Park with Friends, scheduled for August 28, has been postponed to a date later in the fall.  We will publish the new date once it has been determined.

Come enjoy a day of fun with your family and friends!  The 6th annual Sunday in the Park event will be held in historic Forest Hill Park on August 28th, 2011 from noon -5 pm.  There will be live music throughout the day, free bottled water and watermelon (while supplies last), great local food vendors, local environmental groups, awesome art, craft and specialty item vendors, Officer Stacy’s Bike Rodeo, bike repairs, obstacle course, free helmets and water bottles (while supplies last), exploration of the bike trails and a chance to win 1 of several new children’s bikes (all sponsored by RPD, Richmond Coalition of Police, and Endorphin Fitness).  There will be lots of children’s activities to include games, face painting, clowns, Nutsy, moon bounce, tree climbing (by Tru Timber), activities, puppet shows, Jonathan the Juggler and more!  Bring your fishing gear and enjoy catch and release fishing on the gorgeous lake.  Explore the 19th century granite quarry cliffs, picnic by the lake or on the green space.  The place to be for fun is Forest Hill Park on August 28th!  Come join us.  For more info contact:  LeeShewmake@yahoo.com.

Monthly Volunteer Work Party at Forest Hill Park

Hosted on the 3rd Sunday of each month

4 pm – 6 pm

Meet at the Stone House 

Goal:  Habitat restoration of the Old Azalea Garden 

Wear sturdy shoes and long sleeves.  Bring work gloves, pruning tools and a weekend warrior spirit.  

Cold drinks and energy bars provided.  Raffle of a few super prizes!

June 19 / July 17 / Aug 21 / Sept 18

Oct 16 / Nov 20 / Dec 18 / Jan 15

Pyramid Unmasked by Elite Weed Wacker Team

Armed with a machete, a giant Weed Wrench, long-handled loppers and a pitchfork, four members of the Friends of Forest Hill Park’s elite Weed Wacker Team hacked through thick underbrush and vines to uncover the mysterious stone pyramid in Forest Hill Park. Laura Dysart, Sally Kannemeyer, Ann Mays and Suzette Lyon set out Saturday, May 7th to remove the high-value targets smothering native plants and covering the pyramid: mimosa, English Ivy, poison ivy, and other invasive weeds.  Their mission was part of the official Virginia Invasive Plant Removal Day May 7th at sites all across the state.

The mission was also the first action step in the overarching master plan for Forest Hill Park created by Robert Wright, an environmental scientist who grew up playing in the park.  One part of Wright’s plan seeks to preserve the native plant species in  the park, as well as to attract birds and wildlife.

Clearing the invasive vines and saplings from the pyramid site is the first small step in implementing Wright’s comprehensive and inspiring vision for Forest Hill Park.

And it’s going to take all of us, one whack at a time, to make that vision a reality.