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Working to conserve and protect the Appomattox River for all to enjoy
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Summer is just around the bend!
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ALONG THE RIVER WITH FOLAR
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Spring Trail Counts - Get your pen and eyes ready
If you build biking and walking trails, will they come? We can answer with a resounding "yes" because of volunteers like you who count people walking and biking on the Appomattox River Trail.
WHAT ARE TRAIL COUNTS?
Trail Counts are biannual counts conducted along the Appomattox River Trail. Supported by volunteers like you, this effort gathers valuable data about biking and walking activity to improve planning and design. Volunteers will choose a day and count location and will count the number of people walking and biking along their trail section for a 2-hour period.
When: May 16 and 18th
Time: 10am - 12noon or 5:00pm - 7:00pm
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We'll count at five sites.
Choose the day(s) and time(s) you would like to volunteer. In appreciation of your time and effort, Trail Count volunteers will be entered
into a drawing for a great FOLAR gift.
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Petersburg Patton Park Appomattox River Trail Design
 Guided by the Appomattox River Trail Master Plan, the design work for the Appomattox River Trail section through Petersburg Patton Park connecting with the University Blvd.-VSU Gateway and the Historic Petersburg District is underway. The Gateway will serve as a Trailhead to the future 20+ mile ART. As part of locating the specific placement of the trail, a general master plan is also being developed for the park. FOLAR contracted with Land Planning & Design Associates to produce the trail design and park master plan through an implementation grant from The Cameron Foundation. FOLAR has conducted several stakeholder review meetings on the trail design that have included staff from the City of Petersburg, Virginia State University, and The Cameron Foundation. Park improvements and the final park master plan are future projects that will include public input at that later time.
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NEW! Explore the Appomattox River Map
Hot off the press, FOLAR is excited to announce the new "Explore the Appomattox River" map is now available. With funding from the Crater Planning District Commission and the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, FOLAR staff with the support of several highly expert volunteers, has completely revised and updated this map and guide. It includes Points of Interest, Boat Access, Parks, and the Appomattox River Trail. New in this edition is a Key to River Rapids. The printed map is available at state visitor centers, through FOLAR, Petersburg Area Regional Tourism, and others. FOLAR is working on an online, interactive map that will be available on the FOLAR website later in the summer.
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We're almost to our goal!
Help us meet our May deadline to receive a $100,000 matching grant!
FOLAR has been working on a matching investment of $100,000 by The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation - if we can reach $100,000 by the end of May. We're very close. Every gift up to $20,000 made through May 15th will be matched dollar-for-dollar! Doubling your generosity. We will put the funding to use immediately building the Appomattox River Trail for all to enjoy!
Please consider what you can give and act soon.
Remember, your gift can double your generosity! And, FOLAR is a 501c3 non-profit organization, making your donations tax deductible to the fullest extent available.
The sooner we receive your donation the better so we can meet the match and build the trail. You can make a secure
DONATION online
or mail your check enclosed with the
mail-in donation form
to FOLAR, 1964 Wakefield Street, Petersburg, VA 23805. Thank You!
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Clean the Bay Day at the NEW Rotary Park at Pocahontas Island, Petersburg - June 1, 2019, 9am - noon
 The City of Petersburg, Area Rotary Clubs, and FOLAR invite you to the celebration of the opening of the NEW Rotary Park at Pocahontas Island, 181 Rolfe St, Petersburg, VA 23803. Map.
June 1st is also the annual
Clean the Bay Day
when, each year, thousands of Virginians simultaneously descend on the rivers, streams, and beaches of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to remove harmful litter and debris. So after we celebrate the new park, we'll all grab a bag and spread out to pick up trash along the Appomattox river and trail.
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Hopewell Riverwalk Opens
Busy! Since the grand opening of Phase I of the Appomattox River Trail Hopewell Riverwalk on April 6th, people continue to enjoy the tranquil stroll and stunning views of the rivers. Yes, you can see the James River as well as the amazing Appomattox from the new walkway. Congratulations to the
City of Hopewell
on this great success for the community! And there is more to come with work on Phase II about to begin. Phase II will extend the Riverwalk further around the shoreline and connect up the hill near the bridge and new "Big H" artwork.
"T
his Riverwalk...is part of a grander vision for this region. It is a key link in a 23-mile trail - The Appomattox River Trail - extending from City Point to Lake Chesdin."
Ken Newman, FOLAR Board Chair
Creating Hopewell City Park was one of the first projects for FOLAR and past chairman Wayne Walton, in the late 1990's.
As current FOLAR chairman, Ken Newman stated in his remarks at the opening,
FOLAR is very pleased to have continued our partnership with the city to help bring this part of the vision of the Appomattox River Trail to reality.
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INCREASING FOLAR IMPACT
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Meet New FOLAR Board Member
Sam Hayes
We're excited to welcome Sam Hayes to the FOLAR Board of Directors as a representative from Dinwiddie County. He has served on the Planning Commission in Dinwiddie County since 2005. Sam currently works as the Senior Transportation Program Manager at Moffatt & Nichol. He previously worked as a Senior Engineering Program Manager at VDOT. Sam holds a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Military Institute and a Master's of Science focused in Civil Engineering from University of Virginia. He served in the Air Force reserves for more than 20 years.
VaULT - Virginia United Land Trust
 FOLAR's Regional Trails Program Director Heather Barrar attended the Virginia Land Conservation & Greenways Conference held last month in Richmond. The annual conference provides programs and training to assist land-conservation professionals and volunteers in the important work of saving Virginia's extraordinary natural heritage, cultural resources, and open spaces. At the conference, the Governor announced a new, innovative land conservation strategy called Conserve Virginia that identifies lands that have the highest conservation value statewide. FOLAR quickly worked with Va. Department of Conservation and Recreation staff to determine that nearly 2,000 acres of the lower Appomattox River corridor falls within the Governor's priority area. The designated Scenic River contains lands that have high conservation value for scenic and historic preservation as well as for flooding resilience. This data will help FOLAR and partners communicate the importance of protecting the river for multiple benefits for the community and state.
Hilton Head Raffle helps FOLAR to advance its mission
Your chance for a fantastic vacation is FOLAR's opportunity to advance its mission to conserve and protect the Appomattox River for all to enjoy. Through a generous gift from a long-time supporter, FOLAR is raffling off a vacation stay at the exclusive Marriott Heritage Club resort in Harbor Town on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. The raffle winner will be awarded a 6-day/5-night premier getaway, August 25 - 30, 2019. Tickets are $50 each. Only 100 tickets will be sold.
All proceeds will directly support FOLAR's charitable work.
Read More.
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Spring Events Bring People Outdoors
5K Trail Run
Completing the 2019 Prince George Appomattox Regional Riverside Park
5K TRAIL RUN is an accomplishment for more than 100 runners and walkers who enjoyed a park trail route that offered beautiful views of the river - and it didn't rain! The
results are posted. Thanks to all the partners including
Riverside Regional Jail, and the sponsors who made the event possible.
Click here
t
o view photos.
RiverFest 2019
"Fun!" exclaimed one 10-year old attendee about this year's RiverFest. We at FOLAR agree and we are so grateful to all the partners, exhibitors, vendors, and volunteers who made the event possible - especially Dinwiddie County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Hopewell Rec. & Parks, and Fort Lee! Thanks to our sponsors and supporters, Southside Electric Cooperative, Appomattox River Soil and Water District, and Westrock! Remember, the beautiful Appomattox Riverside Park and Trail are there year round to use and love so lace-up your shoes, bring your bike, kayak, and/or fishing gear and enjoy one of the most beautiful places around. See more photos at FOLAR's Facebook Page.
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When you shop with Amazon for the holidays, use
AmazonSmile
for your purchases. When you do, you'll be able to
select FOLAR
as your charity and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to support FOLAR's work to conserve and protect the beautiful Appomattox River! It's easy to participate. Just go to
www.amazonsmile.com
instead of www.amazon.com and use your same Amazon login information and password. You'll be prompted to select your favorite charity, FOLAR, we hope. It's simple, it's helpful and - it's EASY! Thank you for your support.
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STAY CONNECTED to FOLAR.
JOIN FOLAR
as a member and help us achieve our mission
FOLAR on Facebook where we have more than 700 Members Twitter at @FOLARVA. Jump in and share your love of the Lower Appomattox River!
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