Richmond Regional Ride Center Opens at Pocahontas State Park

After three years of planning, fundraising, volunteering and hard work, the Richmond Regional Ride Center is now open.

State and regional officials gathered in Chesterfield’s Pocahontas State Park this morning to dedicate the new trail system, a Legacy Project of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships. The RRRC includes more than 70 miles of mountain biking trails across Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield County and the Richmond.

Partners include Chesterfield County, Dominion Virginia Power, James River Parks, MeadWestvaco, Paralyzed Veterans of America, People for Bikes, Richmond 2015, RVA MORE, Friends of Pocahontas State Park, the International Mountain Biking Association, the UCI Road World Championships, the Virginia Association for Parks, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Chesterfield Rotary Club and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages Virginia State Parks.

“The Ride Center is an example of an exceptional regional project that helps Chesterfield and Richmond continue to be vibrant communities,” said Hunter Applewhite, president of the Dominion Foundation. “Dominion has a long history of supporting outdoor activities because we know they help promote an active lifestyle and improve the quality of life.”

Ride Center is a designation of the International Mountain Biking Association for a mountain biking trail system that offers opportunities for all skill levels, from beginner to expert. The RRRC also includes trials for handcyclists.

“We improved 15 miles of trails and oversaw the construction of 20 miles of new trails in the park,” said DCR State Parks Director Craig Seaver. “We’re in the outdoor recreation business, and we’re particularly proud to play a pivotal role in this important project. We hope this will help people in the Richmond region know that they are much closer to a Virginia State Park than they might think.”

The RRRC is expected to stimulate the local economy by attracting more bike riders to the region. Economic projections call for $4.5 million in tourism spending in Virginia, with $2.7 million in Chesterfield County.

Richmond Region Ride Center Economic Impact

Virginia
Economic activity: $4.5 million
Labor income: $1.5 million
Tax revenue: $369,452
Jobs: 51

Chesterfield County
Economic activity: $2.7 million
Labor income: $867,679
Tax revenue: $212,360
Jobs: 31