By Dr. Jackson Bartlett, Executive Director

This year is FOLAR’s 25th anniversary. As I look back on all we’ve been a part of and all that we’ve been able to achieve, I am humbled. That’s because FOLAR isn’t just an organization. It represents the cumulative effort of countless volunteers, concerned citizens, foundation partners, and local, state, and federal governments to restore the natural beauty and ecology of the Appomattox River, and to provide access to safe, sustainable greenspace that everyone can enjoy.

How far we’ve come

The idea for FOLAR started in the offices of Crater Planning District Commission. Since its founding in 2001, FOLAR has become a full-fledged regional partner supporting conservation, recreation, tourism, and economic development in the Tri-Cities and greater capital region. We’re the primary backers of the 25-mile long Appomattox River Trail and park system, a greenway-blueway that is already a major tourism destination and resource for area residents. We get thousands of people out on the river and trails each year for not just recreation, but also for citizen-led efforts to restore river ecology and serve as good stewards of our natural environment. We’ve moved into the beautiful Appomattox River Center in Petersburg, where we bring the community together and host trainings for local governments, nonprofit partners, and volunteers. Twenty-five years after its inception, FOLAR has become an indispensable resource for our local governments, regional partners, and everyone taking part in the shared project of protecting our river and improving quality of life.

The Appomattox River Trail & Park System

Our twenty-fifth year has much in store. Years of planning and dedication are paying off with construction starting on Appomattox River Regional Park. A hidden gem in Virginia, this part of the ART has some of the best views of the Appomattox River. We look forward to making the trailhead and park more welcoming and accessible, and adding interpretive signage and a native plant garden where visitors can learn more about local ecology. In addition to the ARRP renovation, FOLAR has helped secure full funding for a several key stretches of trail through Petersburg, both west of University Boulevard and east through the city and around Pocahontas Island. It also passes through the Patton Park, the planned terminus of the Fall Line Trail from Ashland to Richmond, connecting the north and south sides of the trail via pedestrian bridge and connecting the Tri-Cities to Chesterfield, Richmond, and the Capital Trail.

Other highlights for 2026 include the expected completion of the Hopewell Riverwalk, and work on Ferndale Park in Petersburg/Dinwiddie.

Conservation & Recreation

In addition to our work to complete the trail, we are working hard with our communities to restore and preserve the riparian buffer. Also know as the forest buffer, this 100-foot zone is part and parcel of river health. It provides habitat, protects water quality, stabilizes the river banks, filters pollutants, mitigates flooding, and regulates essential nutrients and temperature to support river ecology. We remain committed to reaching our goal of protecting 30% of the riparian buffer, and work with hundreds of area volunteers to remove invasive species and restore balance.

Lastly, FOLAR continues to get people out on the river and trail to enjoy the Appomattox River and park system. Whether it’s through our annual Paddle Battle or other programs and online resources, our goal is for everyone to have access to the benefits of outdoor recreation.

A bright future for FOLAR and the Appomattox River

We’ve accomplished a lot, but we know there’s more work to be done. Our job over the next few years is to complete the Appomattox River Trail, and for FOLAR to expand its capacity to bring the community together both to protect the river, and to enjoy all that it has to offer. That’s why we’re launching Friends, Forever, a campaign to ensure the long-term protection of the river by making significant investments in the people, places, and programs that make the Appomattox a living, lasting resource for generations to come.

This philanthropic effort invites our closest champions to help us secure long-term sustainability–strengthening core programs, building financial resilience, and expanding our impact at a pivotal moment for our river and the Tri-Cities. With the help of families, foundations, and area businesses, FOLAR can protect decades of progress, advance conservation and access, and remain a steady, trusted advocate for the river and its communities.

Whether it’s through a major gift, estate planning, or sustained corporate sponsorship through our Adopt-a-Trail program, you can leave your conservation legacy by helping FOLAR stay a friend to the river, forever.

Click here to find out how to leave your legacy by giving to FOLAR.

Are you a corporate sponsor? Click here to learn more about Adopt-a-Trail