COVID-19 Guidance:
In light of changing circumstances, please check the Virginia Department of Health and/or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for updated recommendations to ensure individual and community health. |
Park Hours:
Park is open dawn to dusk. |
Park News ![]() News from Week of August 22:
Four volunteers worked mightily in REC right of way on August 26 to clear Japanese stiltgrass and other weedy growth. Plantings looking good and some native forbs showing well! On August 27, the 3d Dark Skies event of 2022, Milt Roney presented "The Color of Stars: How Astronomers Decode Starlight" to 35 visitors, most of whom stayed to view the clear-sky view of stars, nebula, and the Milky Way. Volunteers install 2nd Bench (donated by RLEP)
and Work in the Park July 14, 2022 Twelve students from the Rappahannock County High School Pathways project volunteered on June 28...spreading mulch under swings and other playground equipment, assembling and installing our latest bench (donated by RLEP) in the playground, mounting our Homegrown National Park sign, and weeding a few invasive plants along the trail. Afterwards, they enjoyed lunch in the Pavilion. One student commented, "I can't believe that the most fun day I've had is digging dirt!" (photos pending permissions) And, moving along...groups of stalwart volunteers have pulled Japanese stiltgrass in the REC right of way to allow space for the newly planted understory plants and some native plants competing for light. Watch for bladder campion, goldenrod, aster, white vervain, Joe Pyeweed, and more!
Free Fishing Day Returns!
June 4, 2022 Thanks to the help from many community supporters, Free Fishing returned to Rappahannock County Park on Saturday, June 4--a perfect weather day. The Rush River was stocked with 200 10-12 inch trout on Tuesday evening. A steady stream of fisherpeople of all ages turned out throughout the day on Saturday in hopes of catching a few fish. Special thank you to:
If you missed the event this year, put it on your calendar for 2023…usually the first weekend in June. Plans are underway for more attractions, which may include live music and refreshments! Watch the Park website for updates.
First Dark Skies Program Event since 2020! April 30, 2022 The evening began with presentations by RLEP representative Joyce Harman and NOVAC member James Granahan. Joyce Harman's talk described the disruptive effects of unnatural light on wildlife as well as examples of solutions which might accommodate human needs for lighting without compromising the needs of birds, insects, and other creatures affected by nighttime lighting. James Granahan's presentation, "What's Up?" highlighted features visible that night: galaxies, globular clusters, nebulae, and double stars. To the delight of the 33 participants, the cloudy sky cleared just in time to offer good viewing! *for information about dark skies lighting, check RLEP website: www.rlep.org *For more information about Dark Skies calendar and events, see adjacent column.
REC Planting Project Continues
February 18, 2022 Five stalwart volunteers cleared the REC Right of Way down to the upper trail for planting this spring. And...spread mulch on the plants set in ground last fall. Thank you to ORMN members Mike Wenger and Jere Willis; community volunteers Torney Van Acker, Virginia Zuniga; and Madison High School student Savannah Brown. |
Mark Your Calendars Volunteer Workdays
Check back for workday updates. Dark Skies events
Please check back for Dark Skies 2022 report and for calendar for 2023. |