Celebrate Anne Springs Close’s 100th Birthday & 30 Years of the Greenway

Join us as we honor the legacy of Anne Springs Close—our founder and visionary—on what would have been her 100th birthday. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Anne Springs Close Greenway, and we invite you to celebrate these milestones with a day of remembrance, community and the beauty of the outdoors.

Enjoy one of two guided hikes beginning at the Lake Haigler Entrance, led by the Greenway’s Hiking Club:

• 8:00am Blue Star Trail Hike (approximately 6 miles)
  Start your adventure with a shuttle (departing Lake Haigler Entrance around 7:30am) to the Blue Star Entrance and hike approximately 6 miles back to the Gateway along the scenic Blue Star Trail.

          Register Here for Shuttle Bus

• 10:00am Lake Haigler Loop Hike (approximately 2 miles)
  Prefer something shorter? Take a relaxing hike around Lake Haigler Loop, starting and ending at the Lake Haigler Entrance.

• 11:30am After the hikes, gather on the Forest Porch for casual remarks, a special tree dedication and a sweet treat as we celebrate Ms. Close’s enduring legacy and the Greenway’s 30 years of connecting people to nature.

About the 100 Trees for 100 Years Challenge

A key component of the celebration is the Greenway’s 100 Trees for 100 Years campaign. Rooted in legacy, community engagement and environmental impact, the campaign aims to plant 100 mature native trees across the 2,100-acre Greenway, continuing Ms. Close’s lifelong mission to protect natural spaces for generations to come.

Supporters are invited to participate by joining a unique physical challenge: walk 100 miles and raise $500 – representing $5 for every mile – before December 31 to help purchase, plant and care for an established tree. Every contribution directly supports the Greenway’s conservation efforts, ensuring these newly planted trees thrive as lasting symbols of environmental stewardship and community resilience.

Learn More about the Environmental Impact of the Campaign

To participate in the hiking challenge, please contact give@ascgreenway.org. To make a one-time donation to the campaign, click here.