Chris Maron, Founding Executive Director of Champlain Area Trails, Announces Retirement Plans

  

For Immediate Release

  

Chris Maron, the founding Executive Director of Champlain Area Trails (CATS), announced he will retire in December 2024 after 14 years of exceptional service. Thanks to Maron's leadership, CATS is an accredited land trust that developed miles of trails, protected land, publicized local hiking opportunities, and enabled thousands of people to connect with nature in New York's Champlain Valley. These actions have all helped boost the valley’s communities and economy.

  

Maron is a founder of CATS. During his tenure, CATS grew from simply an idea into an impactful organization, achieving significant milestones, including creating 77 miles of hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country ski trails. These trails are a popular destination for over 20,000 people yearly. Additionally, CATS protected 983 acres of land through acquisitions and conservation easements, working closely with local landowners, the Open Space Institute, Eddy Foundation, and Northeast Wilderness Trust. The organization focuses conservation efforts on the Split Rock Wildway, a wildlife corridor linking New York's Champlain Valley with the Adirondack High Peaks via the West Champlain Hills, and its trails’ master plan includes town-to-town trail connectivity to provide fun outdoor activities for people of all ages and attract ecotourism and economic development.

  

Under Maron’s leadership, CATS received recognition for its sustainable trails and outdoor recreation. It earned awards and commendations from esteemed organizations such as the Adirondack Council, Adirondack Wild, New York State Outdoor Education Association, and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. Since 2009, CATS built a dedicated volunteer program with over 2,000 volunteers contributing over 20,000 hours. Furthermore, CATS has established an endowment and overseen a six-fold budget growth to over $600,000.

  

Maron began his career in 1984 with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Indiana. He initiated conservation projects at several significant sites, including a transformative preservation and restoration program in the state’s northwest city of Gary, near Indiana Dunes. He came to upstate New York in 2001 as the Champlain Valley Program Director for TNC’s Adirondack Chapter/Adirondack Land Trust. In that role, he conserved several thousand acres of farmland and significant natural areas, including Boquet River Nature Preserve in Willsboro and the Hidden Valley addition to Coon Mountain in Westport. Both sites now have popular trails that he created. Beyond his conservation work, he has been deeply involved in community activities with Westport’s Planning Board, Ballard Park, the Westport Library, the development of Willsboro and Lewis’ town plans, several chambers of commerce, and the Lake Champlain Citizens’ Advisory Committee.

  

Maron expressed his gratitude for serving as CATS' first executive director, remarking, "The best part has been all the people I’ve interacted with over the years. Together, we have built a greatly needed trails and land protection organization that provides recreation, environmental education, health benefits, and economic vitality here in the Champlain Valley. It’s really gratifying to know that people enjoy these trails now and for many years to come.”

  

Daniel Keegan, CATS Board Chair, praised Maron for his leadership, vision, and dedication, stating that “Maron's impact on CATS and the region will be felt for generations.”

  

As Maron prepares for his retirement in late 2024, the CATS Board of Directors has formed a search committee to conduct a national search for the next executive director who will continue to advance CATS’ mission, its impact on the region, and Maron's legacy.

  

###

  

About Champlain Area Trails

Champlain Area Trails is an accredited land trust founded in 2009 with a mission to make trails and protect land to connect people with nature and promote economic vitality in the Champlain Valley. We've made 77 miles of trails, protected 983 acres, and hosted hundreds of hikes, outdoor education outings, and volunteer events, attracting thousands of visitors to the Adirondack's Champlain Valley. To learn more, visit champlainareatrails.com