The Occoquan Fall Craft Show is upon us once again! Or actually, it was supposed to be. The entire weekend show was canceled because of Tropical Storm Olivia. It's such a shame. Our booth would have been set up along the river in Imagination Alley with other non-profit organizations, music and interesting displays and projects for the kids to do. Thankfully, this is where we plan to be in the Spring Show and it will be fun to be in a new area. Our team has exciting plans in the works that we will be talking about at the show. Things are just getting better and better!
It's been almost exactly a year since making the decision to put the skate area on hold and concentrate on the bike area. The proposed Bicycle Skills Park designed by Brock Lowery of Ironwood Outdoors is the focus now. This was a collaborative agreement between us and the county. The bike skills park will be a much more attainable and affordable goal. In addition, there are volunteers ready to get in there and help make this happen. We have gained incredible support from the county and the local biking and trails organizations. The Charlie Boone Trails Memorial Foundation has been around for a very long time with not a lot to show to the public, behind the scenes many things are taking place, but now things are finally moving along and we're gaining the momentum as we had hoped for. Exciting things are happening! Very soon we will be able to share more with you in hopes you share our excitement and enthusiasm. One of the updated item we can share is our upcoming new MOU which will outline the responsibilities and obligations of the Foundation and of the County to reflect our bike skills park. We are in a good place!
A new item has been added to the Navigation sites called Publicity.
The Lake Ridge Today Magazine ran an article in their September/October issue written by Charlie's sister and our Vice President Lynda Lee entitled From Grief to a Cause: one family's journey to remember their loved one through a community project. She wrote from the perspective as a sister who had a lot to say and had the opportunity to say it. There are so many things we've really wanted people to know about us. We feel like we're having a conversation with the community at last and we're grateful for the opportunity to tell our story!
The November/December issue of Lake Ridge Today will run an article called Our History in a Nutshell - Highlights of our Journey and where we are now. Our journey starts on May 7, 2014 at a meeting of the LRPRA Strategic Planning Committee.
Also included in Publicity are links to news articles from 2019 & 2020 and scans of articles from the Old Bridge Observer. (Thank you Randi Reid!)
Over the years, we have found that our partners are our lifeline. NOVA BMX continues to be an important part of our lives. The Occoquan Bible Church has been our friend and partner since the County found the potential site for our park right next door to them in 2016. Church member (the late) Danny Corris joined us with his energy and enthusiasm and designed the first vision of our bike and skateboard park. Also back then, Village Skis & Bikes was the bike and skateboard store in Dillingham Square where Charlie and his friends spent much of their time. Owners Jim Haugan and Tom Finn were on our Board of Directors. The store is now A-1 Cycling and is our "home base" where we keep flyers and information to share. We are planning another Meet & Greet there this fall and hope you can join us.
