Delaware Greenways Executive Director Mary Roth is all about making connections work across the state and not just for recreation.
While she has worked in the nonprofit realm for her entire career, including a role at the Make a Wish Foundation which she called “extraordinary,” her time at the Greenways has been just as memorable.
“It’s about helping the community, helping others, just giving of oneself,” she said. “There are some trails that may circle a park or some other recreational area. But trails and pathways are about connecting you to something.”
In talking about the Jack Markell Trail that connects to Commons Boulevard, she explained how she has personally witnessed those connections at work.
“I met a gentleman who uses that trail every single day to go from the Hope Center to downtown Wilmington where he picks up supplies for others on his bike,” she said. “So, it’s not just a trail for folks to recreate on and stuff like that. It’s a lifeline for folks. I really think it’s about those connections.”
She continues to be the driving force behind trails across the state with a team behind her to support the efforts and the organization that has been a vibrant part of Delaware now for 35 years.
Roth has advocated for several major projects in her nine years on the job with the Greenways, including advocating for an update in the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan. She also advocated heavily for the Delaware Bayshore Byway which offers a historical view of the roads that connected Delaware’s past.
“This award belongs to everyone involved in this organization from its 35-year history,” Roth said. “We are truly connectors at heart. We don’t do anything on our own. And there’s work left to be done.”
