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Volume 2, Issue 9 March 10, 2017 FALLING CREEK IRONWORKS PARK
On March 8, Norma Corbin of the Falling Creek Ironworks This issue Foundation met with Parks and Recreation Director, Dr. James Dodd Park at Point of Rocks 2 Worsley and Chief of Construction and Design, Stuart Connock to PRAC 3 discuss development, programs, funding sources, historical Planning Commission Tours 4‐5 significance and future opportunities at Falling Creek Park Tour with County 6‐7 Ironworks Parks. Administrator
SALT 8‐9
VRPS Management 10‐11 Conference
History 12
Ettrick Community Building 13
Bensley Community 14 Building
Henricus Historical Park 15‐16
Parks 17‐19
We have job openings. Check out the current listing and look for more opportunities year‐round. http:// www.chesterfield.gov/ Careers/ Page 2 TOUCHING BASE
DODD PARK AT POINT OF ROCKS
Nice weather = busy parks
Bermuda District PRAC member, Cathy Cheely spoke of Dodd Park at the PRAC meeting on March 2. She commented how crowded the trails have been with the nice weather we have had. Thank you Cathy for the pictures!
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PRAC
PRAC, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, was held March 2 at the Community Development Building with all 11 members of the Commission present.
Front Row: Cathy Cheely, Bermuda District; Bob Terrell, Dale District; Raymond Marsh, Matoaca District; Shayne McDavid, Vice Chair, Clover Hill District; Brenda White, Chair, Bermuda District; Mary Ellin Arch, Clover Hill District Back Row: Earnest Harris, Dale District; Robert McCurry, Midlothian District; David Glass, School Board Representative; James Worsley, Parks and Recreation Director; John Simpson, Midlothian District; Bruce Clayton, Matoaca District. Page 4 TOUCHING BASE
PLANNING COMMISSION TOURS Park Tours with Planning Commission Members
Last week, Parks and Recreation Site Tours with Gib Sloan, Friday, March 3: Director Worsley, Assistant Director Jim Perdue and Director of Design and Brown and Williamson Conservation Area Construction Stuart Connock, took two more planning commission Falling Creek Iron Works members on tours of their districts. James River Conservation Area On Thursday, March 2, Gloria Freye, Toured Rivers Bend and Meadowville J.D. toured her Clover Hill District and on Friday, March 3, Gib Sloan toured the Bermuda District.
Bermuda District: Gib Sloan ‐ Chairman Volume 2, Issue 9 Page 5
PLANNING COMMISSION TOURS
Site Tours with Gloria Freye on Thursday, March 2:
Rockwood Park and Nature Center Warbro Athletic Complex River City Sportsplex Pocahontas State Park
Clover Hill District: Gloria L. Freye, J.D. Page 6 TOUCHING BASE PARK TOURS WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR District Park Tour with Dr. Joe Casey
On Friday , March 3, Chesterfield Dr. Casey, Johnna Casey, District 1 manager and Jim Perdue County Administrator, Dr. Joe Casey toured each park district with Parks and Recreation Director, Dr. James Worsley and Assistant Director, Jim Perdue. Dr. Casey was able to meet each park district manager and even enjoyed chatting with some the parks and recreation staff.
Dr. Casey, Calvin Edens, District 2 manager and Jim Perdue
Dr. Casey, Ken Jenkins, District 3 manager and Jim Perdue
Dr. Casey with park maintenance worker and with Finance/Admin staffers, Annette Clanton and Cheryl Diggs Volume 2, Issue 9 Page 7 PARK TOURS WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Dr. Casey, Ray Sutton, District 4 manager Dr. Casey, Tim Guill, District 5 Senior Crew Chief
Dr. Casey, District 6 team and Jim Perdue Dr. Casey and Rick Bryan, Trades Crew manager
Dr. Casey and Bryan Truzzie, Historic Sites Manager Page 8 TOUCHING BASE SALT ‐ SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM SALT Retreat
The SALT Retreat was held at the Chesterfield Airport on Tuesday, March 7 with facilitators, Tamara Highsmith and Cindy Taylor from the Learning and Performance Center. The day was spent working together as a team to highlight our strengths, weaknesses, and looking closely at our core and auxillary tasks for the Department. The group worked towards more clearly defining our Mission and Vision for the Department and working together to strengthen the team and some of our goals as we move forward. In attendance were: Dr. James Worsley, Phil Innis, Jim Perdue, Charlie Grant, Peppy Jones, Bob Smet, and Stuart Connock.
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SALT ‐ SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Photo courtesy of Page 10 TOUCHING BASE
VRPS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
The VRPS Management Conference On Monday, Feb. 27, Dr. James was held in Suffolk, Feb. 26‐28. Worsley led an educational Those attending were: James Wors‐ session on Managing Change ley, Jim Perdue, Billy Cooke, Margie and Transition. Bryan, Ronnie Pearson, Danny Boni‐ fas, Lisa Trapp and Tonya Jones. Our staff discovered ways to innovate, motivate and collaborate to make management fun. Volume 2, Issue 9 Page 11
VRPS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
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HISTORY Postcard Exhibit Unveiling A new exhibit opened at the Chesterfield County Museum on March 4. Chesterfield’s Picture Postcard Past displays vintage postcards and provides a look back at 20th century Chesterfield. It shows how much has changed in Chesterfield and how much is gone but not forgotten! Postcards were displayed depicting Historic Route 1, schools, bridges, historic sites in Chester and surrounding localities and historic landmarks. Members of the Old Dominion Postcard Club, Mike Uzel and Tim O’Gorman , who provided the exhibit, gave a lecture about postcard collecting on opening day. The display will continue through August 31.
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ETTRICK COMMUNITY BUILDING
With all of the nice weather we have been having, bring the family out for the day to Ettrick Park. Enjoy one of our play‐ grounds or come inside of the Mayes‐Colbert Ettrick Community Building to see our Little Free Library or what we have to offer. Page 14 TOUCHING BASE
BENSLEY COMMUNITY BUILDING
Jailhouse Rock Senior Dance
Bensley Community Building hosted Jailhouse Rock Senior Dance on Friday March 3rd . The participants of this sold‐out event enjoyed light refreshments and all the great Elvis hits performed by Elvis Tribute Artist, Wrenn Mangum
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HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK
Henricus Historical Park's Executive Director Charlie Grant and fellow members of The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Virginia cosponsored and attended a lecture on women and women's property rights in Colonial Virginia at the Virginia Historical Society on March 2nd. The capacity event of approximately 500 attendees also marked the first public appearance by Charlie's friend and colleague Jamie O. Bosket as the Virginia Historical Society's new President and CEO. One more sponsored lecture is scheduled for May entitled "Feuding Founders: Battling and Back‐ Pictured below: Jamie O. Bosket, President and CEO of the Virginia stabbing in Early America" by Paul Aron Historical Society and Dr. Marcia A. Zug, Associate Professor of Law who is director of publications at the at The University of South Carolina and author of "Buying a Bride: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. An Engaging History of Mail‐Order Matches". Photo credit: Virginia Historical Society Page 16 TOUCHING BASE
HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK
Modern Greenhouse
Our modern greenhouse, used to raise plants for our site gardens and seedling sale, was destroyed in the hail storm. But that won’t stop us from holding our annual heritage plant sale on April 29!
Thyme and basil on left and Golden Acre cabbage on right
Victoria Pagano adding rein‐ forcements in the greenhouse before the new cover is put on. Volume 2, Issue 9 Page 17
PARKS ‐ DISTRICT 4 Page 18 TOUCHING BASE
PARKS ‐ DISTRICT 6
Chester Linear Trail
installing new gates and guardrail at Chester Linear Trail .
Before and after pictures Volume 2, Issue 9 Page 19
PARKS ‐ DISTRICT 6
Chester Linear Trail
Installed new sign and cleared brush. Volume 2, Issue 9 Page 20
SOCIAL MEDIA
www.facebook.com/chesterfieldvaparksrec
www.twitter.com/CCPRVA
Chesterfield.gov/parks
Photo courtesy of