<![CDATA[    Friends of Pocahontas State Park - Ride Center News]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:44:35 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Parking lot project funded!]]>Thu, 27 Feb 2020 01:34:22 GMThttp://www.fopsp.org/ride-center-news/parking-lot-project-fundedThrough intense fundraising efforts involving The Friends of Pocahontas, rvaMORE, Molly's Bike Shop, and other generous contributors,  a check for $210,000  was recently presented to Virginia State Parks for use to build a new parking facility at the Swift Creek Trailhead/Courthouse Rd.
The success of this fundraising effort can be attributed to several significant efforts including a raffle that raised more than $12,000, proceeds from the 2019 PocaGo race, an rvaMORE supported GoFundMe fundraiser, and the generous donation from local rider and Virginia resident, Jerry Guyant, who contributed a matching donation to reach the needed goal.
A ceremonial check was presented to Pocahontas State Park Manager Nathan Clark on Jan. 14, 2020. In turn, Clark presented the Friends of Pocahontas State Park with the 2019 Virginia State Parks Volunteer Organization of the Year Award.  Clark noted that the group contributed a total of 28,000 volunteer hours in 2019, the equivalent of 13 full-time employees.  Now that funding has been secured, DCR will seek bids to complete the project with an estimated start date in Spring 2020.

https://www.wric.com/news/volunteers-donate-210000-for-parking-project-at-pocahontas-state-park/

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]]><![CDATA[Blue Jay Way, trail dedicated to Jay Cullen]]>Sat, 24 Nov 2018 22:50:24 GMThttp://www.fopsp.org/ride-center-news/blue-jay-way-trail-dedicated-to-jay-cullenIn 2014, a vision to create a legacy trail project was started, and Pocahontas State Park was the location for this major trail expansion.  During this time a new trail was built with a huge volunteer effort.  A frequent visitor to the park, and a huge volunteer in the park and for the local NICA associated youth mountain biking club, Liet. Jay Cullen was honored in namesake for this new trail.  Sadly, our friend Liet. Jay Cullen lost his life in 2018 in a helicopter crash while serving for the Virginia State Police.

News coverage of the trail dedication:
https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/pocahontas-state-park-trail-named-in-honor-of-fallen-lt-jay-cullen/1164367736

More information on the Chesterfield Chang Gang
https://www.chesterfieldchaingang.com/

]]><![CDATA[Richmond earns Bronze Ride Center level!]]>Wed, 02 Dec 2015 02:31:16 GMThttp://www.fopsp.org/ride-center-news/richmond-earns-bronze-ride-center-level In August 2015, IMBA awarded Richmond Virginia Bronze Ride Center Status! This puts Richmond, Virginia on a short list of top mountain biking destinations in the country. The Richmond region now has over 70 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails including 7 miles of handcycle friendly trail.  This ambitious project would not have been possible without efforts from leaders and volunteers from IMBA, rvaMORE, Friends of Pocahontas, Paralyzed Veterans of America, DCR, and the Virginia Association for Parks.   Local corporate sponsorship provided by Altria, Dominion, MeadWestvaco (WestRock) and also private donors.  For more information on all the trails included in the Richmond Regional Ride Center, click here.]]><![CDATA[Richmond Region Ride Center Coming To Pocahontas]]>Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:32:28 GMThttp://www.fopsp.org/ride-center-news/richmond-region-ride-center-coming-to-pocahontas
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Pocahontas is looking forward to the addition of almost 30 miles of new single track trails by April 2015.  The new ride center will move the center of mountain biking activity from Qualla Road and the Conservation Museum parking area to a new, more accessible area on Courthouse Road, less than a mile from highway 288.  
Announced earlier this year by Governor McDonald, the new development at Pocahontas is part of an unprecedented partnership between FOPSP, the Virginia DCR, The Virginia Association for Parks, IMBA, Richmond MORE, The Paralyzed Veterans of America and corporate sponsors.  The park will include:

  • 25 miles of new stacked loop trails
  • a 5 mile, mountain hand cycle accessible gateway trail
  • a new day use trail head on Courthouse Road with expanded parking, washrooms and changing facilities
  • a connection between the new trail system and the existing Lakeview single track
  • continuing funds for improving and armoring the existing mtb trails
  • better signage
  • a pump track and skills area
Richmond MORE is collecting donations for the new Ride Center
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