President’s Letter

Greetings and welcome to 2026! As I write this letter in early January, we are in the full grip of winter. Talk about brrrrrrr... The days are short and sunlight feels scarce. However, with snow on the ground, and still plenty of Christmas lights up, entire neighborhoods somehow feel illuminating at night. ‘Tis the season to be thankful and set resolutions, so here we go!

I’ll start by being thankful for community support for our Valley-to-Eastside Expansion Project (VEEP). We raised slightly over $200,000, and many of you reading this have likely donated. Inspiring Community, coupled with strong local support, is making this project come to fruition. I am grateful to live in an area that can be so generous. Our goal is to purchase five parcels of land totaling over 17 acres. Presently, we are about to close on our fourth parcel. We anticipate having all lands purchased by the spring and making plans to open these lands to the public in a timely manner.

I’m equally grateful for our dedicated PCA board and volunteers. As the saying goes, it truly takes a village. The scope of what the PCA accomplishes in a single year is remarkable. This past October, we were awarded a $92,972 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant from the DNR, which will support trail asphalt sealing, invasive species removal, native plantings, coordinator salaries, and more. Although this grant is separate from VEEP—and I’ve been primarily focused on that project—our team didn’t hesitate to step up and move it forward. Their initiative, passion, and commitment to improving the PCA continually inspire me and motivate me to work hard on behalf of our community.

As we move through this winter and look toward the promise of spring, I am filled with optimism for what lies ahead. The progress we are making—together—reflects a shared commitment to stewardship, access, and community. Thank you for your continued support, generosity, and belief in the PCA’s mission. It is truly a privilege to serve alongside such dedicated individuals. I look forward to another year of growth, collaboration, and connection. I hope to see many of you out on the trail in the months to come.