My name is Alan Nicholas and I’ve lived with my wife and daughter a few blocks away from Fonticello Park since 2015. I’m originally from Harrisonburg, VA and moved to Richmond in the early 2000’s where I met my wife and later attended VCU. I currently work at the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) where I manage two teams who oversee organ donation for the United States. I love my city, my neighborhood and want to dedicate my time and energy giving back to the community in which I reside.

I wanted to join the board of FoF Park as I have a vested interest in the park but especially the skatepark as I have skated my entire life (I’m 44, can you tell by all the gray??) and frequent the skatepark 3+ times a week. I understand the wants and needs of the skate community and want to be a voice/advocate/proponent in the decision-making process for funding and planning of the park’s expansion. Most of my friends are in the skate community and although the park is much better than what we used to have (nothing, then the tennis court diy park), there is much work to be done to update and expand the current footprint and overall makeup and layout of what’s there. The skatepark is the most used attribute of Fonticello park, with skaters there from early morning to when it gets dark (and would be even later if updated lights were installed). It serves as a safe-haven for skaters and our community in general, where novices and even area professionals spend their time honing their skills and enjoying the company of others in the tight-knit skate community. It’s common knowledge that positive outlets and productive activity lessen crime and keep the park and the surrounding neighborhoods a safer place. I look forward to dedicating efforts to improve upon the park and make it an even better skate spot for generations to come.

Alan is on the Infrastructure and Park Beautification Committee.