James A. Buzzard River Education Center

The James A. Buzzard River Education Center is a landmark on Richmond’s historic riverfront which strengthens our efforts to reach our vision of a fully healthy James River, valued by all communities in the watershed. To expand our education program and help reach Virginia’s goal of giving every student three meaningful watershed experiences before they graduate, JRA has introduced a new hub for environmental education – connecting students and the region with the river.

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James A Buzzard River Education Center Location

The Conservation Fund in partnership with the Capital Region Land Conservancy purchased the critical 5-acre parcel along Richmond’s riverfront that will help protect the “view that named Richmond.” The purchase filled in the only major gap in public access along the north bank of the James River from Rocketts Landing to Tredegar, to completed the Virginia Capital Trail and help fulfill the goals of Richmond’s Riverfront Plan and James River Park System Master Plan.

  • The site known as “Echo Harbor” along Dock Street is adjacent to Great Shiplock Park and has extensive history as a dock and marine terminal.
    JRA built the James A. Buzzard River Education Center on 0.85 acres of the site to serve as a launchpad for a lifelong love of the rivers for all Virginians, as a reflection of the diversity of the natural and human communities around the James and as gathering point for the exchange of ideas and a catalyst for change.
  • With close proximity to woods, shallow water, deeper waters and protected waters, the site is strategically positioned to provide quick access to a variety of environmental education and river experiences.
    The entire 5-acre riverfront site is protected by public ownership and conservation easements, making this important parcel available for generations to come.
    Located in Richmond’s East End, the James A. Buzzard River Education Center and the new Dock Street Park provides greater river access for underserved communities and diverse visitors.
    JRA, 3North, and Kaleidoscope Collaborative conducted a community engagement process in 2021 to gather input from community members and stakeholders as to how the river education center can best serve students, residents, and visitors.

Key Features of the James A. Buzzard River Education Center

  • A lobby area to welcome and orient visitors.
  • Flexible classroom spaces and exhibits with interactive activities such as a “riverquarium” and the latest educational technology that allows students to see their local environment in a global perspective.
  • Cutting edge sustainability practices so that it actually functions as a forest from the river’s perspective and can inspire visitors to live more sustainably in their own lives.
Learn more about our Richmond area education programs

During his life, Jim was a tireless advocate for the James River and an enthusiastic proponent of youth environmental education. He was a key leader and visionary of the James River Center project in Richmond, Virginia and all that it will make possible for the river he loved and for future generations to come.

 To honor Jim’s love of the James and the importance he placed on environmental education, his widow, Susan Snyder contributed $1 million to JRA as a challenge gift to the community to name the James River Center in Jim Buzzard’s honor. This $2M naming opportunity has become a reality through the generosity of Susan Snyder, and the family and friends of Jim’s.