Sharing PCEC's 2022 Annual Report
Today, the Park County Environmental Council is excited to share with you our 2022 Annual Report. The 12-page report gives detailed information on many of our program areas.
You can view the Annual Report here.
As Park County continues to grow, we all have something at stake.
The ecosystem that provides for bison, grizzlies, wolves, Canada lynx, elk, wolverines, trout, beavers, stoneflies and everything else is delicate. A complete ecosystem like this has been destroyed in most of the Lower 48.
It’s the wildness of this place and the community that makes our home special — we value local connections and we will stand shoulder to shoulder to defend our home. This is a place where people and wildlife can live and thrive, where the river can continue to be wild and free. It’s a special place. It is also a place vulnerable to climate change, growth and development, and more.
The critical question we face now is – how do we grow and change in a way that doesn’t sacrifice what we love?
At PCEC, we believe that we can grow in a way that protects what we love if we work together to plan for growth. That’s what people want. No one wants to live next door to an industrial gravel pit, a five story hotel, an empty vacation home, or 100 wall tents for “rustic” camping. We want neighbors we can count on – whether that’s wildlife or people.
For decades, we’ve encouraged proactive planning that will help preserve those things in the face of the ever-expanding human footprint. With your help and encouragement, the City and County have taken up growth policies, active transportation plans and housing plans that will help guide us as we grow.
Together, we’ve come up with a vision: let’s protect the rural lands in the County and build inward. Let’s protect the intact public lands and wild rivers in our backyard. Let’s make sure we have wildlife friendly garbage cans, roads, and fences. Let’s build neighborhoods with mixed housing, corner stores, shared open space, trees and sidewalks.
We know that if we roll up our sleeves, we can help make good things happen here in our community. In 2023, let’s plant more trees, show up for our neighbors, champion our teachers and nurses, and support the good work of our local officials and staff at the City and County. Let’s make sure that the next generation can afford to live here, and that they know bears and bison and a wild and free river.
We know it’s possible. With your help, we can make it happen.
For the wild,
Michelle