►
Description
At Wednesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, Park Manager Nate Clark provided the Board with a Pocahontas State Park Annual Update.
B
Good
afternoon,
mr
chairman,
members
of
the
board,
dr
casey,
appreciate
you
all
having
me
up
here,
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
come
and
give
an
annual
update
for
pocahontas
state
park.
My
name
is
nate
clark,
I'm
the
park
manager
and
again,
thank
you
for
having
me
here
today
got
a
couple
slides
with
some
general
park
information
and
then
go
through
some
updates.
Some
stuff-
that's
happening
this
year,
some
some
new
facilities
and
some
new
openings
that
we
have.
B
B
B
This
is
calendar
year
2021.
Our
attendance
was
about
950
000.
Just
over
950
000-
and
that
includes
some
facility
closures,
the
pool
and
the
aquatic
complex
being
the
biggest
of
course
has
been
closed
for
two
years.
Until
this
summer,
951
000
was
the
second
highest
in
the
state
for
virginia
state
parks
and
that
also
included
about
120
000
overnight
guests.
So
those
are
folks
who
were
camping
and
staying
in
the
in
our
new
cabins.
B
So
again,
a
busy
park
a
lot
of
folks
come
out
and
enjoy
pocahontas
interpretive
programs
last
year.
These
numbers
are
also
a
little
bit
down
because,
of
course,
we
had
to
modify
a
lot
of
the
ways
that
we
did
things
over
the
last
few
years,
but
our
interpretive
educational
programs
are
are
are
very
important
for
what
we
do.
B
This
is
the
the
junior
ranger
programs
and
getting
the
kids
down
in
the
creeks
and
turning
over
rocks
and
finding
crawdads
and
teaching
the
stewardship
and
the
values
and
the
conservation
and
resource
values
that
we
want
to
pass
on
to
to
the
youth
that
come
to
the
park.
So
over
600
programs
last
year
and
again,
even
600
is
a
little
bit
down.
So
we're
we're
trying
to
get
those
numbers
back
up
to
where
we'd
like
to
see
them.
30
000,
volunteer
hours.
B
We
have
just
a
tremendous
just
incredibly
tremendous
volunteer
and
community
support
here
in
chesterfield,
the
folks
that
come
to
the
park
that
use
the
park.
Friends
of
pocahontas
is
a
501c3
nonprofit
organization
that
just
does
tremendous
things
for
the
park.
They
provide
financial
support.
They
help
with
programs,
they
staff
our
special
events.
They
do
fundraisers
just
do
incredible
things
for
the
park:
virginia
master,
naturalists,
rva,
moore,
paralyzed,
vets
of
america.
Just
the
list
goes
on
of
all
the
folks
who
who
contribute
to
these
volunteer
hours.
B
So
truly
we
could
not
do
the
things
that
we
do
and
offer
the
park
that
we
have
without
our
volunteers,
so
we're
very
thankful
for
them
and
then
pocahontas
was
established
in
1946
and
we
just
had
our
75th
anniversary
last
year,
mr
holland
came
out
for
one
of
our
concerts
and
and
spoke
to
the
crowd
on
behalf
of
the
board
of
supervisors.
We
appreciate
that
hope
to
see
you
out
again
this
year.
B
B
Also,
we've
seen
a
tremendous
increase
in
attendance
and
visitation
over
the
last
few
years.
People
realizing
how
important
it
is
to
be
able
to
get
outside
and
enjoy
nature
and
enjoy
these
recreational
opportunities
that
we
have
in
our
attendance,
and
our
revenue
has
has
reflected
that
this
year.
Obviously,
we've
opened
the
pool
again
open
memorial
day
weekend.
After
being
closed
for
two
years,
so
that
certainly
is
contributing
to
that
revenue
increase.
B
B
We've
been
full
every
weekend
going
back
to
march,
so
we're
seeing
a
lot
of
a
lot
of
good
usage
of
the
park,
which
has
a
direct
impact,
of
course,
on
our
revenue
numbers
staffing
will
hit
this
real
quick.
We
have
11.
Full-Time
positions
is
what
our
allocation
is
for
the
park,
so
8
000
acres,
almost
a
million
people
and
we've
got
11
allocated
fte
positions.
B
We
have
one
that
is
vacant
right
now
in
the
summer
time.
Of
course,
we
need
a
lot
more
help,
so
we
hire
a
lot
of
folks
in
the
summer
time
a
lot
of
our
seasonal
wage
employees,
high
school,
kids,
college
kids.
You
know
folks
who
are
looking
for
the
summer
jobs,
so
that's
groundskeeping,
maintenance
working
in
the
office
contact
station,
doing
the
interpretive
programs,
the
educational
programs,
so
our
total
staff
could
vary
quite
a
bit,
but
during
the
summer
it's
it's.
It's
not
uncommon
to
get
up
to
about
75
people
in
the
park.
B
One
new
initiative
that
we
did
this
year
was
with
our
our
lifeguards
in
the
pool
being
closed
for
two
years.
Typically,
we
really
rely
on
our
seasonal
staff
returning
year
after
year,
especially
lifeguards.
If
they
have
that
certification
they're
familiar
with
the
operation
familiar
at
the
park
having
to
pull
close
for
two
years.
We
didn't
have
that
and,
as
I'm
sure
we
all
know,
there's
been
a
labor
shortage.
B
So
we
did
a
public
bid
solicitation
for
a
lifeguard
management
company
this
year
and
we're
able
to
contract
with
swim
club
management,
club
or
swim
club
management
group.
I'm
sorry
to
provide
our
lifeguard
services
for
us
this
year,
which
has
worked
out
very
well
so
far.
We
would
have
had
a
hard
time
opening
on
on
our
own
hiring
our
own
lifeguards.
So
that's
been
a
big
bonus
and
a
big
plus
and
then
to
finish
up
the
staffing
on
our
law
enforcement
side.
We
have
a
five
positions.
B
B
A
lot
of
his
numbers
are
based
on
attendance.
That's
why
you
see
a
little
bit
of
a
fluctuation
there
over
the
last
three
years.
So,
as
attendance
goes
up
this
year,
I
would
expect
to
see
that
number
increase
a
little
bit
also
and
he
he
bases
it
on
daily
attendance
overnight
attendance.
This
also
takes
into
account
the
money
that
out
of
the
park
operating
budget,
we
put
back
into
local
businesses
by
buying
supplies
and
all
that
so
last
year,
in
2021,
this
against
calendar
year
was
a
reported
37
million
dollar
impact
to
the
local
community.
B
So
every
state
park
across
the
state,
rural
communities
to
bigger
urban
communities
like
chesterfield,
see
a
direct
impact
to
the
community
by
having
a
park
and
having
the
visitation
to
come
to
the
area
for
your
local
gas
stations.
To
the
you
know,
the
grocery
stores,
retail,
the
small
businesses,
everything
so
we're
very
happy
to
be
able
to
provide
a
little
bit
of
benefit
to
chesterfield.
By
being
here.
B
It's
also
a
good
reinvestment.
You
know
again
making
some
improvements
for
the
people
who
the
loyal
folks
who
come
and
use
the
park
year
after
year
and
through
last
week,
when
I
pulled
these
numbers,
we've
already
had
about
17
000
swimmers.
So
that's
from
the
saturday
memorial
day
through
the
22nd.
It's
it's
a
lot.
B
B
So
just
a
nice
opportunity
to
get
governor
and
first
lady
out
and
kind
of
share
the
park
a
little
bit
have
a
chance
to
talk
about
the
park
and
and
some
of
our
some
of
our
challenges
and
successes
and
I've
been
very
supportive
administration
has
been
very
supportive
for
the
department
of
state
parks.
So
far,
so
it's
very
nice
to
have
him
out
this
one
really
excited
about
this.
This
is
just
last
week
we
unveiled
a
brand
new
historical
marker
on
beach
road
for
group
camp.
Seven
we
had.
B
We
have
several
group
camps
that
are
still
left,
that
we
still
use,
and
these
are
all
built
by
civilian
conservation
corps
in
the
late
30s.
So
group
camp
7
was
a
segregated
park
that
was
active
in
the
40s
and
50s
girl
scout
groups.
Ymca
church
groups
had
a
lot
of
a
lot
of
really
good
use
back
then,
for
you
kind
of
your
typical
summer
camp
what
you
would
expect
so
there
were
cabins.
B
B
Our
staff
here
at
the
park
has
has
really
done
a
tremendous
job,
doing
some
research
and
reading
into
group
camp
seven
and
camp
carey,
as
as
one
of
the
names
was,
and
actually
talking
to
some
folks
who
who
were
there
as
children
in
campers
and
secretary
james
when
she
was
there
last
week.
She
said
that
she
had
been
to
the
camp
when
she
was
a
younger
girl,
so
kind
of
neat
to
tie
that
history
back
in
working
through
the
department
of
historic
resources.
B
We
were
able
to
secure
the
marker
and
have
it
installed
and
had
a
very
nice
dedication
last
week
and
we're
proud
to
be
able
to
for
perpetuity
honor
the
history
and
the
significance
of
group
game
seven
and
we
hope
to
continue
learning
more
about
the
camp
and
and
we've
done
some
guided
hikes
and
some
different
programs
to
it.
We
hope
to
keep
doing
that
and
do
some
more.
B
And
then
about,
I
guess,
two
weekends
ago
on
the
19th
we
had
our
second
annual
juneteenth
celebration
community
celebration
in
the
park.
We
had
some
small
business
vendors,
some
storytelling,
djs
food
and
beverage
again,
really
good
community
support.
Friends
of
pocahontas
helped
us
out
quite
a
bit
and
just
a
real
nice
event.
We
did
that
down
in
the
visitor
center
area.
I
wish
I
had
a
better
picture
of
that,
but
that's
the
only
one
I
could
find.
B
Our
concert
series
we've
had
one
concert
so
far:
richmond
symphony
we've
partnered
with
chesterfield
parks
and
rec
to
have
the
symphony
out
over
the
last
several
years.
I
have
another
band
on
this
friday,
the
embers
and
then
you
see,
we've
got
a
full
schedule
of
concerts.
There
had
a
real
good
turnout
for
the
for
the
richmond
symphony.
It's
probably
about
six,
seven
hundred
people,
we
think
beautiful
night
and
a
good
turnout.
So
I'm
excited
to
keep
the
concert
series
going
this
year.
B
Trails
trails
are
one
of
the
biggest
used
facilities
we
have
at
pocahontas.
We've
got
about
100
miles
of
trail
total,
which
includes
hiking
or
hiking,
specific
trails,
mountain
biking,
specific
trails,
equestrian
trails,
multi-purpose
trails,
multi-use
trails
and
again
I
keep
going
back
to
the
community
support
and
the
volunteer
support.
So
we
opened
a
new
mountain
bike
trail.
A
few
weeks
back
for
national
trails
day
actually
was
on
on
june
4th
new
mountain
bike
trail
4
miles.
B
It
was
built
almost
entirely
by
volunteer
support,
and
we
have
you
know
park
staff
of
course
also,
but
primarily
volunteer
support.
Friends
of
pocahontas
rva
moore,
some
of
the
local
cycling
stores
and
groups
came
out
quite
a
bit
so
just
another
tremendous
tremendous
example
of
what
the
community,
the
folks
that
use
the
trails
is
able
to
do
to
give
back
to
the
park
and
the
rest
of
the
riding
community.
B
B
It's
off
of
hawkins
forest
road,
which
is
one
of
our
fire
roads
that
runs
from
newbies
bridge
area
down
towards
towards
the
lake
kind
of
south.
That
way,
and
you
can
access
it
folks
that
are
familiar
with
the
with
the
trails
in
the
park.
You
can
go
down
kind
of
through
luke
forest
in
our
hub
area
and
go
back
up
through
hawkins
forest.
Does.
B
B
So
the
hiking
trails
of
the
cabins,
of
course,
we're
looking
to
develop
some
more
of
those
pocago
bike
race.
We
had
that
on
june
18th
we've
had
several
bike
races
already
this
year,
just
wanted
to
mention
pocago,
because
it's
again,
the
friends
of
pocahontas
support
that
race
and
all
the
fundraising
that
they
get
through
the
race
goes
back
to
the
park
to
help
continue
to
develop
and
maintain
our
high
control
or
mountain
bike
trails.
B
And
the
last
one
I
put
on
here
this
is
really
more
of
a
department
update
than
specifically
at
pocahontas,
but
it's
it's
something
that
we're
kind
of
proud
of
our
department
has
been
accredited
through
the
virginia
law
enforcement,
professional
standards
commission
since
2012,
and
just
a
few
weeks
ago
we
we
received
our-
I
guess
our
third
reaccreditation
we've
got.
Several
we've
got
about
100
officers
across
the
state
when
we're
fully
staffed.
B
That
fluctuates
a
little
bit,
of
course,
so
spread
over
those
40-some
parks,
41
parks
and
several
of
us
are
working
work
on
the
assessment
team
that
helps
with
the
the
annual
assessment
and
the
four-year
assessment.
So
something
we're
a
little
proud
of
just
shows
the
professionalism
of
the
officers
and
the
staff
that
we
have
at
virginia
state
parks,
so
just
wanted
to
throw
that
one
in
there
also-
and
I
believe
that
is
all
I
have
I'm
happy
to
take
any
questions.
And
again
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
be
here
today:
board
members.
A
B
I
can
answer
the
first
question.
I'm
not
sure
I
have
a
good
answer
for
the
second
question.
We
use
traffic
counters
across
the
the
park
entrance
and
the
major
parking
lots.
The
perimeter
parking
lots.
We
call
them
like
outside
on
courthouse
road.
So
the
new
parking
lot
at
loop
four,
so
we
built
last
year
expanded
last
year.
It
does
have
a
traffic
counter
and
I
wish
I'd
pulled
those
numbers
before
I
came
in,
but
I
didn't.
B
We've
got
standard
multipliers
based
on
those
counter
numbers
that
the
department
uses
and
it
varies
a
little
bit
by
time
of
year.
Also
so
we
may
be
missing
some,
but
we've
used
the
same
standard
formula
for
year
after
year,
so
showing
trends
we're
pretty
confident
in
that,
whether
it's
going
to
be
100
accurate,
that's
a
good
question,
but
I.
A
B
Something
else
that
the
friends
group
does
friends
of
pocahontas.
That
again,
I
didn't
pull
these
numbers
before
I
came
in,
but
they
have
actually
purchased
and
maintained
trail
counters
on
the
trails,
so
it'll
physically
count
every
biker
as
they
go
by
so
we
can
get
a
pretty
good.
Accurate
number
count
for
the
actual
trail
of
use.
C
D
C
I
applaud
that
you
know
the
parks
are
so
very
important
to
our
citizenry,
because
it's
a
place
they
can
go
and
and
get
away
as
you
point
out,
and
we
have
needed
that
for
the
last
two
years.
So
now
we
have
the
opportunity
to
get
out
and
with
family
and
friends
it
makes
such
a
big
difference.
So
thank
you
for
your
team
and
the
service
you
provide
to
pocahontas
and
for
the
chelsfield
county
citizens.
Thank.
D
You
know
it's
one
of
my
bucket
list,
things
too,
whatever
you
need
from
us
to
better
promote
your
parks
and
support
them
and
get
that
advertising
out,
because
it
is
a
it
is
a
hidden
gem.
Actually,
my
wife
and
I,
when
we
have
out
of
town
guests,
we've
actually
come
and
stayed
at
the
cabins
and
there's
a
win-win,
and
many
regards
for
that
when
you
have
out
of
time
guests.