From our executive director: The importance of coming together at Summits

The greenways and trails movement is no different from most other sectors in the fact that relationships matter. At the East Coast Greenway Alliance, we pride ourselves on our collaborative approach as we team up with hundreds of outstanding partners at the local, state, and federal level. Most of the partnerships entail dozens of emails, phone calls, and one-on-one meetings. But from time to time, it's good for us to get together and share inspiring stories, key data, and to build the human connections that are the bedrock of respectful and effective collaboration. 

In the last several years, we have hosted regional summits in New England and the Southeast to do just that: connect with each other. We are excited to host our first-ever Mid-Atlantic Greenways & Trails Summit April 4-6 in Philadelphia. If you haven't already, I encourage you to register online today for this gathering to hear from innovators who can help you and your community achieve your goals, especially if you are in the corridor from New York to Washington, D.C. 

At the Summit, you will be among the first to check out a brand-new report quantifying the impact of the Greenway.  This new report, the most substantial to date, focuses on the Delaware River Watershed region including Delaware, Pennsylvania, and western New Jersey. On Thursday night, April 4, you'll get to hear from leaders who are transforming Greater Philadelphia into a mecca for trails enthusiasts. Our Friday lineup includes leaders and colleagues from all over the region, including our keynote speaker, New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver. And on Saturday we've got some outdoor fun options: a handful of bike rides, walks, and a clean-up.

The Summit is made possible by partnership with fellow nonprofits along with government agencies and philanthropists such as Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, NV5, the William Penn Foundation, and GSK. Thank you to everyone who is working hard to make the gathering another major step forward for our movement — strengthening relationships that are poised to make a strong impact throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

To a healthy, sustainable and united future,

Dennis

Dennis Markatos-Soriano , Executive Director

Read more of our March 2019 On the Greenway newsletter