Philip Petronis, Board President
Dear Friends and neighbors:
On all our behalf, I would like to give A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the County for keeping open our Ward Pound Ridge Reservation during the first months of the Covid pandemic. In the face of so much uncertainty it made sense that the safest place to be would be in the great outdoors with plenty of sunlight and open spaces. Yet most of the area outdoor facilities were closed, including the JJHS fields and track, various playgrounds and many local land trust parks, so access to the Res was of special importance.
This was a source of sanity for me each day, walking my dogs in the Res, as it was for many of the Board of the Friends of Trailside, as described further in the newsletter; and I’m sure it was a great resource for many of you as well.
During March, April and May the visitor volume in the Res increased dramatically as people came from all over to enjoy one of the few open spaces available. In fact the Res became so crowded on occasion that there was no parking available and it was temporarily closed to new entrants.
During this time the County waived the parking fee, which was a considerate decision in light of the Covid hardship. The parking fee has now been reinstated and I’m reminded of the benefits of a donation of $100 or more to the Friends of Trailside, which contributes to enhancing the Museum programs and Res facilities as well as provid-ing free parking for the year.
The bridges over the Cross River have now been completed and are beautiful improvements; the work on the shelters is nearly completed and along with some improved trails our wonderful park is better than ever.
Thank you for your support of the Friends of Trailside and hopefully the Museum will be open soon for you to come visit.
Happy Trails,
Philip Petronis, Board President Friends of Trailside Nature Museum