A few months ago, the City of Charlottesville observed Liberation and Freedom Day, which commemorated the arrival of Union troops in Charlottesville on March 3, 1865, freeing much of the local enslaved population. The end of slavery in the United States, however, wasn't complete until a few months later, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas. With the reading of Executive Order Number 3 by Union General Granger on June 19, 1865, the last 250,000 enslaved people in the United States were freed. June 19, or Juneteenth, was made a state holiday in Virginia last year, but celebrations began in Texas in 1866 and spread across the country in the years since (the photo shows a Juneteenth parade in Richmond in 1905). We are happy that Juneteenth is beginning to get the official recognition it deserves! For a great list of ways to commemorate Juneteenth in your own way, check out this UVA Today article.

Join Phil Stokes for this June 19th, 9 AM walk at Ivy Creek Natural Area, which will return to being an in-person walk. Those coming on the walk must be vaccinated, or wear a mask and socially distance.  We should find several species of flowering milkweed and mints attracting a host of pollinators. In the woodland we'll see the strange looking Indian pipe and unusual flowers of skullcaps as well as black cohosh. Marsh area will delight us with arrow arum, arrowhead, and wild hydrangea all in flower. Co-sponsors:  Ivy Creek Foundation and the Jefferson Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society.  Meet by the Kiosk near the parking lot.  Free and open to members of the public.

All good things must come to an end, and so the kiosk which served us since 2007 was taken down on June 10. It served its purpose with distinction, but was showing its age. It was carefully disassembled, with the displays moved to the new kiosk or stored as possible, and much of the lumber recycled.

Accessibility! We are excited to announce a new joint project between Albemarle County Parks and Recreation (ACPR) and ICF to provide much-improved accessibility for viewing wildlife and historic areas at ICNA. Phase I of the repaving of the Paved Path is expected to take place in July. Phase I covers the area from the parking lot (bottom left of the diagram), to the Education Building (right of diagram), to the Barn (top of diagram) to the Clivus (composting restrooms, by the little triangle at upper left), and back to the kiosk. We are very excited about the improved accessibility and thank you for your patience with the repaving process! We will report on the next phases, which will extend the repaving of, and therefore accessibility of, the next sections of the Paved Path. Please be careful in the construction zone during this time, and instruct children to stay off the construction equipment. Many thanks to ACPR and its Interim Superintendent Jim Barbour for their support in this important improvement.