FountainheadProject.org

Just a few short weeks ago, we here at the Fountainhead Project seriously discussed shutting down the Project. Earlier in the year we had received negative news about our RTP grant application and our funding for a proposed demo project fell through. And then the below letter showed up in the NVRPA mail box.

We are months and months away from new construction but it looks like the fun is about to begin!!!

The public comment period has begun for the Phase II construction on the Fountainhead Mountain Bike trail. Now is your time to express your concerns, objections or comments to the Park: http://www.nvrpa.org/uploads/Files/Fountainheadmountainbiketrailpubcomment.pdf

The Grant Award for the Phase II construction is for $152,000.  On April 11th, 2012 the Mid Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), as part of the RTP Grant Application, pledged to raise $16K in cash, provide nearly $17K in volunteer labor and plans to provide over $5K in rental of trail building assets.

Once the environmental studies are completed, an RTP written, released and awarded; we will conduct several volunteer days.  Under the RTP guidelines, as long as we properly record volunteer information, each volunteer hour is worth $22.03 an hour.

Want to contribute now?  Click on the Donate NOW button on the Right Hand side of the Page!

The Phase I Construction is COMPLETE! The Fountainhead Phase I construction has been completed.  The trails are open and for the most part dialed in.   Our good friends from the Fredericksburg Area Mountain Bike Enthusiasts (FAMBE) mapped the trail with a professional grade GPS and the map looks great!! 

The completed Phase I construction replaces the entrance “Green” loop and middle “Blue” loop with new, fun, rolling, swoopy, bermy and most importantly sustainable single track. 

Loop 1, The Green Loop, is now 2.22 miles.  Loop 2, the Blue Loop is 4.77 miles and the unchanged Black Loop is still 3.93 miles.  Most bike grade GPS’s measure the entire trail distance at speed at about 10 miles long but we now know the actual distance is closer to 10.9 miles long.   As mentioned in previous articles, the new exit loop routes the trail up higher and away from more sensitive parts of the Park.  The exit loop comes complete with the big bridge which allows riders to exit the Park while allowing other riders to pass under it to enter the Blue loop. 

The project was paid for by a $100,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant as well as individual, private and business donations.  Material donations were also made from Vulcan who kindly donated many MANY tons of stone.  Special Thanks go out to:  The O’Sullivan Family, MORE, REI, The Bike Lane, Team IMBA, KBR, Bikes Belong, EX2 Adventures, CDW as well as the many anonymous individual donators who reached deep and donated in what can best be described as trying economic times.  Additional Thanks go out to the Northern Virginia Park Authority who not only own the land but backed us financially and allowed us to make the improvements.  Lastly, Fairfax County Government both politically and permit wise came through for us as well the Virginia Department of Natural Resources.  The project could not have even started without their support and understanding of what we wanted and were trying to do. 

On Sunday July 8^th, 2012, there will be an official ribbon cutting ceremony and festival.  The day will start off with grassroots time trial race at 8:00 AM.  Riders will go off in 1 minute increments and try to finish the entire loop with the fastest time.  Ride participation will be limited to the first 100 riders who register on ACTIVE: After the race the ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11:00 AM and group rides will start at 11:30.  Niner Bikes will be there to demo their fleet and there will be a moon bounce for the kids.  In addition there will be a dunk tank for those wishing to take out their favorite (or not so favorite) Fountainhead Project Program Manager (Larry C) as well as a few MORE Board Members (Dave F, Jen B).  There will also be a picnic starting at 1:00 PM.  Bring a dish to share and we’ll have BBQ supplied from Texas BBQ.  PLEASE join us if you can!!!! 

The Fountainhead Project also has a Facebook Page.  Park Staff as well as a few MORE members volunteer their time to try and keep the page current with open and closure status.  Check it out  and FRIEND it.