2020 Reflections & 2021 Goals
2020 has been a tough year. If there has been a silver lining for me, it has been the solace I find when I get outside and hit the trails. I know I’m not alone. Whether rediscovering a love for the outdoors, getting out for the first time, or deepening an ongoing love affair with our parks, trails, and open spaces, so many people turned to the outdoors this year as a refuge. The parking lots are full, our trail counters are logging a big uptick in trail usage, and there are new faces out enjoying the trails every day. We anticipate trail usage to climb higher in 2021, which is why I’m here to ask you for a gift today.
Were trails important to you this year? Which trails did you enjoy most? As you reflect, I hope that you feel proud to know that your gifts make those moments possible. Your contributions in 2020 led to more trails, better-maintained trails, and more access to the outdoors for more people in our community. Please consider making a gift today to take it even further in 2021.
With your support this year, MBOSC completed the Saratoga to Skyline Trail, which is the final link in a trail route linking the Bay Area to the Pacific. We worked for the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to build and open the trails at East Glenwood Preserve in Scotts Valley. Our crew gave the Chanticleer Pumptrack a major facelift. We rebuilt and reopened Sawpit, the iconic trail at Soquel Demonstration State Forest. We broke ground on a world-class asphalt pumptrack right in the heart of Watsonville. We have begun planning and design work for new trails at Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management.
We’re grateful to everyone who contributes time and resources to expand and preserve trail access. Thank you, land manager partners, tireless volunteers, sponsors, members, and donors. You make a meaningful impact on trail access in our community. I call on you today to make another contribution to fuel this work through 2021.
You have the power to bring amazing projects to life next year. I’m excited about the 50 miles of new trails that we will begin building at Cotoni-Coast Dairies and San Vicente Redwoods. Our crew will work alongside State Parks to rebuild trails destroyed by fire in Big Basin, Butano, and Fall Creek. We will rebuild the Westside Pumptrack with a new asphalt track. If you see yourself enjoying these trails and pumptracks, invest in their success by making a gift today.
Take a moment to reflect on how getting out on the trail has shaped your year. How much is that worth to you? Please consider making a meaningful contribution to help ensure that we can protect and enhance trail access, no matter what 2021 throws at us.
Please make sure to take care of yourself and yours this holiday season, and take some time to get on the trails however it is you choose to enjoy them.
Humbly,
Matt De Young
Executive Director
