They came in droves, friends old and new, cheeks ruddy as they stepped out of the cold February evening into the warm embrace of Greenbelt Land Trust’s 25th Anniversary celebration and annual meeting. Landowners, elementary teachers, fisheries biologists, pastors, OSU librarians … the diverse gathering of friends and neighbors settled into their seats, eager to celebrate the success of an organization that feels like family to them.
As two decades of photos streamed on the walls, there were laughs and guffaws heard, as folks were transported back to old haircuts, neon clothing, and photos of children now married and grown. A time capsule of trail building workdays, Board meetings, picnics, and parades – there might have even been evidence of croquet games and bagpipers. So it was that in smiling reverie of the people and times gone by, that we started our meeting.
The podium was soon handed over to those whose stamp has been left at Greenbelt. People like Jerry Davis, a County Parks Director who took the risk of championing the Greenbelt concept before local government in 1989. People like Phil Hays, who spoke of his first walk with founder Charles Ross atop hillsides, quickly adopting the vision of a community connected by open spaces. People like Karlene McCabe, whose work on passing the Open Space Bond Measure in 2002 left an indelible imprint on our community’s ability to unite for conservation. And lastly, people like Andrew Martin, a landowner whose support for trail systems has enabled each of us to have access to nature close to our own backyards.
The audience of over 200 leaned in to listen to these intimate stories from the guest speakers. Stories of where we have been and the people who got us there hung in the air as we turned our thoughts to the future for Greenbelt Land Trust. What will the audience at our 50th Anniversary be celebrating? We paused in unison to imagine ‘what might be’. The clean rivers. The upland prairies. The potential trail corridors through unexplored terrain. The fish we saw when we were young returning to tributaries.
In parting we were left with words from our Board President, who recalled searching for an elusive great gray owl that was spotted amid this February ‘snowpocalype’. Snow crunching underfoot, light waning, he took to the trails at Bald Hill Farm in pursuit, binoculars at the ready. Though no owl was found, the eerie blanket of silence and snow had made its mark, reminding Ethan of our tenuous connection to the natural world. While we are celebrating the success, the people, and the lands that have defined Greenbelt over the last 25 years, we are also reminded that there is more to be done. This was an invocation to our friends in the audience. Continue to be a steward of this land alongside us. Continue your land vigil, so that we may leave it a better place for our children and grandchildren.
On cue, a restless toddler at the back of the room let out a squeal as if to say “Come on people, let’s get moving already!”. One by one, after pausing to visit with friends, we stepped back out into the winter evening. Each of us inspired to renew our commitment to Greenbelt Land Trust, and to each other.
