Developing the Greatest Greenway of All-Time

I just witnessed my favorite soccer player, Leo Messi of Argentina, reach the only accomplishment that had eluded him in his glorious career - leading his country to victory at the World Cup. This achievement cemented his position as one of the Greatest of All-Time (GOAT) in the beautiful game of soccer. And it gave great joy to the people of Argentina who are suffering from an inflation rate that is 10 times what we have here in the United States. Over the last 30 years, Messi has devoted his life to developing and fine-tuning his craft of otherworldly dribbling, passing and shooting. It's been a privilege to see the fruit of his labor. 

We too have devoted 30 years to fine-tuning our craft, built on the strong foundation laid by our visionary founders Karen Votava, Pat King and several others who set the East Coast Greenway in motion in the early 1990s. Together, we have developed over 1,000 miles that now attract more bike rides, runs and walks than any park in our great country. Our organization has grown at a remarkable clip and now has four times the capacity we had a decade ago, thanks to generous individuals and institutions who support a healthy and sustainable future for all to enjoy. We have leveraged $20 million in support for our organization into $2 billion in investment to complete the Greenway, and we are almost halfway to the result we seek, which is a safe and fun route from the moose to the manatee and the pines to the palms. With a few more years of collaborative, hard work - we can make our dreams of a trail connecting cities and cultures a reality for all - from daily walks and rolls to long-distance adventurers like the indomitable runner Shan Riggs, the inspiring young unicyclist Avery Seuter, and the leading cyclist Regina Yan who joins our Board in January. Working together, we are on the cusp of becoming one of the Greatest Greenways of All-Time. 

Please consider helping us reach the $10,000 end-of-year match that our generous Board Co-Chair Larry Silver recently pledged to our nonprofit. This support will keep us strong as we approach the New Year and ready ourselves to pounce on the opportunities of 2023 and beyond. With dedicated resolve and focus, we can be as proud as Messi and his Argentinian teammates. We too can achieve glory, by completing one of the most important infrastructure projects in the country. With a few more years of development and growth like the last few, we just may reach Greenway GOAT status, and more importantly, we may change the trajectory of our nation and the world by rising to the challenge of the climate and public health crises gripping 21st century civilization. 

Onward together, 

Dennis