Trail Builder Eleanor Winston
Totally dedicated
Behind every successful park or trail effort you will find a Trail Builder, an individual that shepherded the dream into reality, giving time, money or both in pursuit of the goal. The following is a Q & A feature on one such Trail Builder -- Eleanor Winston. Thanks in large part to her vision and persistence, parks and trails throughout Minnesota have benefited!
Q: How did you get involved in protecting land for parks and trails?
About 10 years ago, a friend asked me to join the the board of Parks & Trails. Prior to that I had always loved exploring the woods and trails around my home, mostly on horseback. I had never really thought about how the places I was enjoying came to be created, or what it took to keep them functioning.
Q: What motivates you to continue this effort?
I continue because the more I visit the different parks and trails, the more I discover how different each one is – each with its own special features, and how important it is that we continue to make sure these places are saved and supported. I am often surprised at what great natural areas I find in areas of our state that at first glance might not seem so interesting.
I also like what Parks & Trails does in working with other partner land conservation organizations, together keeping parks open for everyone, and encouraging people to get out into the open spaces and experience them.
Q: What is your favorite success story?
I recently went hiking in Afton State Park and was thinking about all the work that was done to make that park happen, and how lucky we are that people like Sam Morgan and others worked so hard to make sure that the farms were preserved as Afton, with the wonderful hills and views unchanged. Tettegouche is another example, where citizen efforts made a small parcel grow into the great park it is now. Nearly every park has a similar story, and each park is a success story. That is what I most admire, the amount of coordination it takes, and yet how easy it can be when people work together.
Q: What do you see on the horizon for park land protection efforts?
Friends groups will be playing a bigger role, supporting each park or trail. Because they are focused on one place or region, they can be the strongest voice to make sure that their favorite place is being taken care of, and gets the attention it deserves.
Q: What would you tell others who don't know how to start trying to make a difference?
Get involved! The only way you can truly understand what it takes to keep parks open and functioning at a quality level, and also appreciate the great value of each park or trail, is to join a group like the Parks & Trails Council, or a friends group locally. Invite someone to go hike in a park and introduce them to these special places, and then invite them to join Parks & Trails!
It is interesting that being involved in Minnesota state parks has made me become more attuned to parks in other areas of the nation and the world. Parks & Trails has opened my eyes to all the inner details of what is special about our natural world, and all it takes to provide these great parks, trails and natural areas that I used to just take for granted.
The Parks & Trails Council has many Trail Builder stories of people giving their time, talents and resources to build parks and trails. A contribution to Parks & Trails helps energize and train more trail builders, and preserve and protect special places for generations to come.
