Message from Our New Director
Category News | Posted on January 16, 2018
Message from Our New Director, Mary Kromrey (pictured center)
There’s a buzz in the air, and it’s not just a nice-walking-path-thru-the-woods-buzz. There is a
certain energy that I see across multiple sectors that realize the natural beauty of our Ozarks can be a way for our community to come together in our identity and make our mark as a destination worthy Midwestern city. A city that is not only a wonderful place to visit, but an even better place to live and call home.
When I look back at 2017…
I was amazed by the nonprofit Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium and Museum. I was excited about the recommendations from our City’s Millennial SWAT Team to highlight our outdoor amenities and make downtown more friendly for people who bicycle and walk. I was down right giddy (yes, giddy) hearing from folks who participated in the Chamber’s visit to Boise, Idaho, where city leaders were energized by the Boise River Greenbelt – a 20+ mile trail that connects people and places. Additionally, I’d be remiss to not mention our Trails for Generations funding initiative that raised nearly a million dollars to fund gaps in our trail network —three times our annual operating size. What does all this mean? It means that our community needs us because we are one of our Queen City’s best resources to fully realize the potential that trails, with a focus on a connected trail network, will bring to our community in the coming years for conservation of our land and water, economic vitality, and the health of our community.
Looking forward to 2018 and beyond, I realize that I’ve got the sweetest gig in town–I get to be a part of the story that Springfield tells both our current and future visitors and residents. When a trail gets built, when land gets protected in our land trust, and when we work across sectors to create a place that folks can walk and bicycle, we are demonstrating that we value our outdoors and each other. Our outdoors are a huge economic engine for our region. The work OG does connects new audiences to the outdoors everyday which will continue to fuel our economy into the future. I am truly thankful to be at the helm of this organization and to have received such a warm welcome from our founders, members, and partners.
— Mary Kromrey