Department: Outdoor Economy, Community & Infrastructure
Email: richard.edwards@mail.wvu.edu
Rich Edwards is the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Coordinator for the Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative. Before joining the team, Rich worked for 21 years at the International Mountain Biking Association as the IMBA Trail Solutions Director of Community Engagement and Education. Rich has gained quite the reputation in the trail building community and is known for the care and effort he places into design, with special attention to sustainability and working with the land, not against it. Rich has gathered this knowledge across time and space, traveling over 33 U.S. states and eight countries to build his understanding of trail building, mountain biking land management and techniques. He’s brought this knowledge, experience and creativity with him as he seeks to reimagine trails in West Virginia that will shape our communities for years to come.