Meet-a-Ram: Andrew Alli’s path to James River Park System leadership came through VCU

By Madeline Reinsel

Andrew Alli didn't always want to work in parks. The Henrico County native enrolled at VCU as a mechanical engineering major, but he realized he wanted to spend his days outside.

"Clearly, I made a little bit of a pivot," said Alli, a 2011 environmental studies graduate who this year became superintendent of Richmond's James River Park System.

Growing up, Alli and his family often visited Maymont to watch the trains roll by along the river, in addition to frequenting Pony Pasture within the city's park system as well as Henrico County's Deep Run Park. Now, he oversees day-to-day maintenance and capital improvement projects in Richmond's trails and parks bordering the James, including in Pony Pasture and the trails that run alongside the canal near Maymont.

"It's just funny to think that I was so drawn to that area, and then fast-forward and I'm working within that space that I admired," Alli said.

VCU's environmental studies program is now part of the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability within the College of Humanities and Sciences. At VCU, Alli took classes in sustainability and the environment, and he started what was at the time the university's only student-run community garden. He and a friend grew vegetables in the plot, located near Byrd Park, and then sold them at a farmers market in Oregon Hill.

It was at that same market that Alli first saw someone play the blues harmonica, kickstarting his other career as a professional touring blues musician.

"It's funny - my music journey also started at VCU," Alli said. "I'm very fortunate that I'm able to do both [careers], because I love them both equally."

Shortly after graduating, Alli took a park maintenance position at Powhatan State Park before transitioning to working within the James River Park System. That career path has led him upward and through an ever-changing professional - and natural - environment.

"You name it, it happens in the park," Alli said. "That's why I really like this work. The unpredictability can make things fun and interesting - there's never a dull moment in the park."

VCU News spoke with Alli about his career and his time at VCU.

What makes the James River Park System special - and what's next for it?

I love this park system specifically because it's very wild, but also in the middle of an urban environment. So, you get this really interesting juxtaposition of these wild spaces in a pretty decently sized city. It's pretty rare to have what we have, in the sense that you can walk out your door and then, five minutes later, you're on a single-track trail in the middle of the woods. And depending on where you're looking, it doesn't even feel like you're in the city.

We also have some really exciting new trail connections coming online right now, and we've acquired some new park spaces.

How did VCU prepare you for this career?

I took a class on sustainability in Africa that was a really great overview of all of the different aspects of sustainability, and how complex these issues can be - everything from water to transportation to energy needs. But you can apply that same mindset to any setting, and the one thing I took away from that class was just realizing that everything is super interconnected, and there are no easy solutions.

Can you give us an example from your current work?

We deal with a lot of erosion on our trails within the park system. There are things we can do to make those trails more erosion-resistant. But are there other things beyond the trail that we can do to help reduce erosion? What type of plant is on the hillside? Is that plant native or invasive - is it helping retain that hillside? What about our tree canopy? Those root systems affect how well soil is being held onto. Where are people walking, and are they contributing to the erosion? And how do we keep people on the trails?

So, there are all of these things that go into our design and maintenance plans.

Any advice for students who may want to work in the park system?

Just get involved. If you're interested and you want to learn more, we have a lot of volunteer opportunities that can really give you a better idea about what our work looks like from day to day. You could also find a volunteer group to do trail work, or to do invasive-species removal or cleanup. Just get in the park!

And, if you frequent the park, chances are you've run into parks employees, so don't hesitate to just say hello and ask questions about what we do.

Do you have a favorite James River Park System trail?

It depends on the mood I'm in! Buttermilk Trail is undeniably the best trail we have. It's got so much variety to it. It's very beautiful - there's so much plant diversity there. There are some really great, mature native tree species there, and there are beautiful creek crossings. I mean, it feels like you're in the mountains.

But if I'm just trying to go down to the river and hang out, I love the Texas Beach area. Right now, we're in the middle of a repair to the tower, so the beach is inaccessible. But that should be completed by spring, which I'm really excited about.

What's your un- word?

Unassuming. I like to put my head down and get the work done.