Point of Rocks Park is described in the City*Smart Guidebook for Richmond (Gail Doyle, John Muir Publications, 2000) as a 'nature lovers paradise' with a wonderful boardwalk that leads eagle- and wildlife-watchers out to an observation deck overlooking the marshlands and the woods."

Over twenty-two years ago, Chesterfield County, Virginia acquired "over 60 acres of tidal marsh formed around Ashton Creek, a tributary of the lower Appomattox River, from the Continental Can Company. This acquisition completed the County's landholding [188 acres] to allow environmental interpretation from the upland plateau, across the stream valley bluffs of over 75 feet in height, all the way to the river; three (3) different unique landforms and ecosystems" (Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department, September 28, 2001)

Over time, boardwalk, observation platform and walkway extensions were lost as "the effects of water, rot, decay and countless floods took its toll and the wooden system finally collapsed on itself" (Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department, September 28, 2001)

In 1994, a bond issue was approved which contained funds for the rebuilding of the boardwalk and other trail improvements.

In late winter/spring of 2000 and 2001, after significant study, "workers braved extreme cold and oppressive heat and all forms of biting insects" " (Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department, September 28, 2001) to improve the boardwalk and trail system at R. Garland Dodd Park at Point of Rocks.

" The project was constructed using principally the two (2) Sheriff's Workforce Crews [including 32 inmates over two years] and administrative and trades crew support from department staff. Construction could only be accomplished during fall and spring periods due to unfavorable working conditions at the marsh.

The first task was removal of all the old boardwalk and dismantling the unusable portion of the bridge. No equipment/vehicle access was possible across the marsh. All removal was by hand and on foot. The next task was construction of the wooden walkways and platform to serve as a staging area. The doc sections were constructed on-site and the walkway progressed from trailhead to bridge. A specially dolly was built to move the completed section out into the marsh.

Each dock section required assembly of 10 structural members, two (2) floats, 33 decking boards, 99 clip fasteners, four (4) hinges and 40 bolted connections. In total 90 sections were assembled, rolled in place and secured to form the boardwalk. All was accomplished with inmate labor for the most part, most semi-skilled and different groups of guys to train every two (2) weeks." (Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department, September 28, 2001)

The project was completed at a total cost of $234,141.35, with a net savings to the county of $135,858.65. [contracted costs were $370,279.20]" (Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department, September 28, 2001)

Having some time on my hands in Richmond, Virginia, I was naturally pleased to go by to see the wildlife and boardwalk for myself - having completely forgotten the recent impact of Hurricane Isabel. For now, much of the boardwalk has been destroyed.

According to Jennifer Wampler, "Estimated cost to replace by contracting would be $280,000 as reported to FEMA for the floating boardwalk. We have located the walk within the marsh area and believe it to be reusable with minor repairs. We are ordering the floating barge and transport boat equipment to retrieve the boardwalk this winter. We plan on retrieval in late spring and summer, with re-grand opening by mid-summer 2004." (Jennifer Wampler, electronic mail, February 2, 2004)

This should not, however, hold up your own visit to the park. There are walking trails, picnic shelters, overlook areas and bird watch areas still in tact.

My visit was late in the morning, when it was quiet [with the exception of bird life] and overcast after a winter snow, a pleasant respite.

I stopped for a while on a pebbly beach to watch flocks of birds travel up and down the Appomattox River, only to run across the same types of birds flying high over Ashton Creek Marsh.

Inland and upward from the river and marsh toward the bird watch area, I found robins and jays and rabbits and squirrels along with berries and pods littering the ground.

According to Naturalist Mark Battista, the wildlife fared Hurricane Isabel better than [the floating boardwalk or humans in the surrounding area]. He says, "At the Dutch Gap Conservation Area, I did notice that some of the heron nests were blown out of the tree and/or the entire tree was blown down. The frogs loved it" (electronic mail, February 3, 2004)

Note: On my visit, trees were down everywhere: many chopped up to clear passage way to the extensive system of trails.

Smaller pictures above are courtesy of the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department. The larger pictures, taken on January 30, 2004, are my own.

For more information, contact Park Superintendent - Jim Perdue, 530-2459. For shelter reservations: 751-4696.