Public Review/Comment Sought for Kayak Launch Project

Our plan to build a public, ADA-accessible kayak and canoe launch at lower Four Mile Run is proceeding, with investigations evaluating impacts to cultural and natural resources and environmental justice completed. Compliance with state and federal environmental laws and regulations are summarized in the form of a draft National Environmental Policy Act Categorical Exclusion document and attachments, posted on the Kayak Launch Project page for review and comment prior to August 21, 2023.

Please have a look, and we appreciate your comments in support!

Trail Bridge Update - July 2023

According to recent stakeholder group communication from the City:

The project is fully funded. Staff continues to monitor the impacts of costs and schedule trends on City capital infrastructure projects. Additionally, continued labor, supply chain and material issues result in unanticipated delays.

Design for the bridge replacement was completed in May 2023 and the construction contract will be awarded this month, July 2023. Landside preparations for the new bridge crossing are anticipated to occur for five (5) months with completion in December 2023. City staff continue to experience delays in the fabrication of bridges. Currently, due to backlogs and continued demand, bridge fabrication is running approximately 10-12 months. Therefore, it is currently anticipated bridge delivery will occur in late spring 2024. Following delivery of the new bridge steel frame, installation includes securing the bridge to the new foundation, pouring the concrete bridge deck, curing of the concrete bridge deck and other final finishes. The bridge crossing is anticipated to open summer 2024. City staff are hopeful the fabrication time may improve as the year progresses which could shorten the completion of the project.

Contact Jack.Browand@alexandriava.gov to be added to the Four Mile Run Trail Bridge Stakeholder email group. For additional information, visit the Four Mile Run Trail Bridge project webpage.

Kayak Clean-Up Season Starts

With daylight lasting longer and water temperatures on the rise, we are pleased to announce kayak clean-up dates for May and early June. Help keep our waterways clean, while enjoying quality time -- and company -- on the water!

Sign-ups for each date open 2-3 weeks prior to the event, so not all announced dates will be open for registration right away.

DETAILS & SIGN-UP HERE

More clean-up dates will be added, but the current schedule is:

Wednesday May 3, 5:00-8:00pm
Friday, May12, 5:00-8:00pm
Sunday June 4, 9:00am-Noon

Hope to see you out there!

 

4MR Paddle Power/Clean Stream Extreme events are made possible by grant support from Patagonia Old Town, Virginia American Water, and the Spring Creek Environmental and Preservation Fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation

Springing to Action for All-Ability Water Access

Wednesday, April 26, is Alexandria's Spring2ACTion giving day, an opportunity to support the work of local nonprofit organizations, including the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation. This year our $20,000 Spring2ACTion campaign is focused solely on the Four Mile Run all-ability kayak/canoe launch project, so please consider giving!

We are pleased to report that this project -- to build a public ADA-accessible kayak/canoe launch with wheelchair transfer platform and roller entry/exit, the first of its kind in the DC metro area -- is moving forward, with the environmental review and permitting process underway. We expect this multi-agency process, managed by the firm RK&K, to take approximately eight months, during which time we will continue to raise the balance of funds needed for construction to begin in early 2024. We currently have $375,000 in committed grant funding toward the project, and we need about $100,000 more.

2023 Annual Report

We are proud to share our 2023 Annual Report highlighting the ways the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation has been working to promote nature, culture, and community at lower Four Mile Run this past year, April 2022 through March 2023.

A few numbers:

• 2,190 hours of service by 486 volunteers
• 19 kayak clean-ups and 13 land-based clean-ups
• 5,604 pounds of litter removed
• > 200 plants planted
• 26 Nature Explorers And Restorers youth programs
• 7 pop-up nature center events
• $375,000 in grant funding raised toward a building a public, ADA-accessible kayak/canoe launch