On Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors issued a resolution declaring April to be Healthy People Healthy Trails Month. County Public Health and County Parks sponsored the resolution. Mark Wilkinson, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, thanked the Board for their support and acknowledged the Healthy People Healthy Trails steering committee members and the organizations in Santa Barbara County that make promoting outdoor activities in a natural environment possible. Excerpts from his talk follow:
On behalf of our leadership team, Sansum Clinic, CenCal Health, Healthy Lompoc Coalition, County Public Health Department, City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation, and the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, we want to take this opportunity to thank the Supervisors and County agencies for your work to improve the public health and welfare of all community members.
Our organization is a platform for healthcare- and recreation-focused organizations to collaborate to make it easier for people to reap the well-known benefits of spending time in nature and leading an active lifestyle.
As Executive Director of the Trails Council, I see trails as healthcare infrastructure and active transportation corridors. Trails provide a way for people to connect with nature and the outdoors. They offer a safe and accessible way to explore the natural world and support outdoor activities like walking, hiking, biking, running, and many others. Trails can also help improve physical and mental health and provide a sense of community and connection to others. Best of all, no membership fee is required.
We would only be able to celebrate Healthy People Healthy Trails Month with the support we receive from organizations that host outdoor events and those who maintain access to trails, parks, and open spaces. The list includes:
- California State Parks – Channel Coast District
- Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration
- City of Carpinteria Parks & Recreation
- City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation
- City of Santa Maria Recreation & Parks Department
- City of Goleta Parks & Recreation
- County of Santa Barbara – Parks Division
- Elings Park
- Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
- Los Padres Forest Association
- Montecito Trails Foundation
- MOVE Santa Barbara County
- Sage Trail Alliance
- Santa Barbara Audubon Society
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
- Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade
- Santa Barbara Historical Museum
- Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
- Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum
- Santa Maria Valley Open Space/Orcutt Trails
- Sierra Club – Santa Barbara Group
- The Bucket Brigade
- The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County
- UCSB – Coal Oil Point Preserve
- UCSB – Sedgwick Nature Preserve
- U.S. Forest Service – Los Padres National Forest – and many others.
Mark closed his comments by saying, “Again, thank you for your resolution in support of helping young and old find more ways to join in outdoor activities that fit a range of lifestyles, abilities, and interests.”