STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Wood River Land Trust has received a National Land Trust Excellence Award for its work on the Hailey Greenway, which created a refugee for people to connect with nature.

The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save “the places people need and love,” honored the Wood River Land Trust at Rally 2021: The National Land Conservation Conference.

“I think (the Hailey Greenway has) added to the character of our valley--the character of our city,” said Scott Boettger, executive director of Wood River Land Trust. “It’s something that people can relate to in their community.”

The Hailey Greenway offers natural trails nestled with trees alongside the banks of the Big Wood River just a few blocks from downtown Hailey. It encompasses 450 acres and two public parks.

“I think the Land Trust has proven to be the best partner any community could have,” said Martha Burke, mayor of Hailey. “I am so grateful that this is part of my community and, whenever things get tough, I can come here and feel restored.”

Also recognized during the Rally was New Jersey’s Tewksbury Land Trust, which was honored for its work on the 10 Mile Trail, a network of trails and preserved lands 50 miles west of New York City.  Conservationist Mark Anderson received this year’s Kingsbury Browne Conservation Leadership Award & Fellowship for his work as director of The Nature Conservancy’s Center for Resilient Conservation Science.

Founded in 1982, the Washington, D.C.-based Land Trust Alliance represents nearly 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 200,000 volunteers and 4.6 million members.