A Community Effort, a Statewide Honor
Councilor Stevens, Governor, members of the Executive Council, and fellow community members:
Let me begin with a special thank-you to Councilor Janet Stevens. Your advocacy helped make Virginia’s All Persons Trail possible, opening the outdoors to people of all abilities. Without your support, that trail would never have happened. You helped turn a community’s hope into a place people can experience, and we are deeply grateful.
I am honored to accept this commendation on behalf of Pelham Pathways and the many people whose generosity and hard work make our mission possible.
Our work begins with a love for Pelham—its rural character, its forests and wetlands, its wildlife, and its people. We believe residents of every age and ability should have opportunities to enjoy these treasures and help protect them for future generations.
That belief becomes real through collaboration.
Our town boards and departments are essential partners in this work, especially Parks & Recreation, whose collaboration helps make Celebration Park a welcoming community space. Businesses such as Bartlett Tree Experts, NH Hardscapes, East Coast Landscape Supply, and Mill City Iron Works share their expertise and resources. Pulpit Rock Lodge #103 and the Pelham Memorial School PTSA help turn shared ideas into community projects. Our collaboration with the Pelham Bluebird Society supports our shared commitment to protecting wildlife and helping residents appreciate the birds that make Pelham their home.
And our volunteers bring those projects to life. They plant, water, build, guide, organize, and welcome. Their work leaves a lasting mark on our community—and often a little dirt under their fingernails.
You can see their impact in Celebration Park, on our guided hikes, and in the development of Harmony Park at Pulpit Rock. You can hear it in the laughter and friendly competition around the pickleball courts, where staying active goes hand in hand with building friendships.
These places and programs give people reasons to get outside, meet a neighbor, learn something new, and feel that they belong.
We are also looking ahead.
Our proposed 2027 priorities include a community-wide Pollinator Pathway, expanded invasive species education, more opportunities for children and families to explore nature, and continued work toward completing Harmony Park. We are exploring an outdoor classroom with the Pelham Memorial School PTSA and preparing to share our town’s landscapes and stories through the Discover Pelham book and a pocket-sized trail guide.
We want Pelham to become a destination for people who appreciate nature, local history, and welcoming outdoor spaces—a place visitors seek out and residents take pride in sharing. As we invite people to discover Pelham, we want them to understand why these places matter and how to care for them.
Our rural character is central to that vision. The forests, wildlife, quiet trails, and community spirit that draw people here are the very things we must preserve.
We are strengthening volunteer recruitment, training, and leadership to carry this work forward. A garden needs tending. A trail needs care. And a community needs people who are willing to show up.
That is how we help make Pelham a livable community: by creating opportunities to stay active, age well, build friendships, and contribute at every stage of life.
This commendation belongs to our volunteers, members, donors, and partners. It honors what people can accomplish when they share a vision and put their hands to work.
Thank you for recognizing their dedication—and for helping us build a Pelham where people of every generation can find a path, a purpose, and a place to belong.
Written by Yvonne La-Garde, Chairperson Pelham Pathways
October 13, 2026
