Trail Builder Michael Prichard

Making a difference

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 -- Mike Prichard.

Q: How did you get involved in park and trail building efforts?
I have fond memories from early childhood walks with my parents along the Mississippi River and Minnehaha Creek. They imbued me with a love and respect of nature. That laid the groundwork. As to active involvement, I clearly recall a conversation over 20 years ago with Martin Kellogg. Martin invited me to become active in the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, which I did. This led to long-term involvement as an active member and director. More recently I became involved as a member and director with the Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County and with the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation. The Foundation is a volunteer membership organization largely responsible for the construction and maintenance of the 1000-mile National Scenic Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin.

Q: What projects have you been involved in that have been especially satisfying?
It is heartening to be part of a volunteer organization blessed with so many outstanding leaders and to see how much can be accomplished as a result of our efforts. The creation of Grand Portage State Park in 1989 stands out because it resulted in a new park and went beyond our projects to add land to existing parks. I also recall a loan the Parks and Trails Council made to a Preston/Harmony Trail Joint Powers Board to facilitate the purchase of options on land for the trail corridor between those communities. I often wonder if that trail would have happened had that loan not been made. It was also satisfying to work with longtime Parks & Trails President Sam Morgan to put together an offer in record time to buy land at the mouth of the Crow Wing River on the Mississippi that had already been subdivided into lots for development. If we hadn't acted, visitors to Crow Wing State Park today would be looking across the river at houses. There has also been the satisfaction of supporting requests to the Legislature to authorize and fund projects that have been approved and the disappointments of those that have not. I recall a Parks &Trails Council annual dinner attended by a delegation of representatives from the 10 municipalities along the then proposed Paul Bunyan Trail. That group was successful in petitioning the Legislature to establish the trail.

Q: Why have you invested more than 20 years of time and energy in the Parks & Trails Council?
Primarily because I believe in its mission and that some time and effort invested now will make a difference to us and to future generations. I wish, for example, that someone 150 years ago had the foresight to set aside a 200-acre stand of virgin white pines along the St. Croix River, so we could still walk through them today. It is fun to be involved in a mission with like-minded, talented people.

Q: What advice would you give to others who want to help protect and expand parks and trails?
Don't take our outdoor resources for granted. Get active in an organization that can make a difference!