Title
Thanking Peggy Lynch for her many years of dedicated service in support of parks and trails in Saint Paul and Ramsey County.
Body
WHEREAS, Peggy Lynch's love for the great outdoors and recreational facilities began at an early age when her family moved to Minnesota and encouraged her participation in a wide range of outdoor activities including skating and tobogganing in the winter and swimming in the local lakes in the summer; and,
WHEREAS, in the 1970's, Peggy's love of the outdoors developed into advocacy for them as she became a member of the Pig's Eye Coalition, a group that successfully prevented the Pig's Eye area from being turned into a barge fleeting and industrial zone and backed the eventual designation of Pig's Eye as a Scientific and Natural Area; and,
WHEREAS, in 1985, Peggy was instrumental in the formation of the Friends of the Parks and Trails of Saint Paul and Ramsey County and has continued to serve as its Executive Director since its inception; and,
WHEREAS, under Peggy's leadership, the Friends of the Parks and Trails has played a key role in the development of parks policy for the city; leading the charge to establish the parks commissions in Saint Paul and Ramsey County; pushing for the adoption of the "no net loss" of parkland charter amendment; promoting a city ordinance setting up a process for the leasing of park lands and facilities; and facilitating the adoption of Saint Paul's parkland dedication ordinance; and,
WHEREAS, through Peggy's efforts, the annual Friends of the Parks and Trails tree sale has contributed to the planting of over 6,000 trees in Saint Paul and Ramsey County Parks and created stewards for the preservation of these important public resources; and,
WHEREAS, Peggy has played a vital role in the development of bicycle and pedestrian trails throughout Saint Paul; leading efforts for the Gateway Trail connection to downtown, working with MNDOT to include a bicycle and pedestrian tunnel during the development of the I-35E bridge; assembling support for the inclusion of a bicycle and pedestrian crossing on the new Lafayette bridge, and advocating for the inclusion of pedestrian and bicycle connections on all bridge and street construction projects; and,
WHEREAS, Peggy's dogged determination to fight for what is right for the environment and parkland and her resolve to serve as the voice of citizen support to preserve our outdoor legacy have made her the "go to" resource for city and county staff and elected officials; and,
WHEREAS, Peggy plans to retire in 2013 having served over 28 years as the Executive Director of Friends of the Parks and Trails of Saint Paul and Ramsey County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council thanks Peggy Lynch for her many years of dedicated service in support of parks and trails in Saint Paul and Ramsey County and encourages all residents to continue her legacy of advocacy for the environment and open spaces.