The Foundation for America’s Public Lands is proud to support the Skyline Trail project through the Lands to Love® Catalyst Fund. The Skyline Trail expands recreation access and creates new opportunities for Americans of all abilities to enjoy their public lands. By bringing partners together and unlocking philanthropic investment, we help local leaders turn good ideas into real impact for their communities and the lands they love.
In 2021, Tom Wilson – former educator and Green River, Wyoming, native – had an idea for a new trail. He told friends and family about it, and one of them made the lighthearted suggestion: Make the trail accessible. (The word “grandpa” was jokingly thrown around, though Tom has a youthful twinkle in his eye.) Mulling it over, Tom agreed that barrier-free access would make the trail even better. That conversation, rooted in the importance of giving people of all abilities opportunities to access the outdoors, started a journey that would change lives, inspire shocking generosity, and earn him a key to the city of Green River.
The 11,450-person community, only a twenty-minute drive from Rock Springs, is proud of its outdoor access. Residents volunteer for city-wide cleanups, advocate for accessible trails, and take full advantage of the state’s warm season. To meet those needs, Green River Greenbelt Taskforce (GBTF), which formed roughly thirty years ago, began developing an ever-growing trail network.
Over the course of two years, Tom worked alongside his fellow Board members of the Taskforce, including Chair John Freeman and member Bernie Witte, to take on the challenge of building Skyline Trail, a majority ADA-accessible 4-mile stretch of purposely wide, controlled slope trail. They knocked on doors, applied for grants, and called friends of friends. The turning point came when Tom’s former student, Dustin Shillcox, answered.
Dustin knows something about refusing to accept limits. After a 2010 car accident left him with a spinal injury that paralyzed him from the chest down, he chose to turn his own experience into a mission to open doors for others. When Tom called, Dustin didn’t hesitate. He and the Dustin Shillcox Foundation contributed $100,000 to get the project moving. Dustin brought an energy that would prove just as valuable as the investment.
With a gift of $100,000, this dream project became a real possibility. GBTF and Dustin began negotiating easements, agreements, and all the other legalities necessary to reach the “moving dirt” phase. That’s where the Bureau of Land Management’s Recreation Specialist Lauren Hazzard came in. Lauren navigated the finer elements of permitting, environmental assessments, and surveying to make sure the growing group of community members could move forward in building the barrier-free, multi-use route. The plans accounted for a slope of 12% grade or less – meaning it would not be too steep for seniors like John’s mother and youngsters like Dustin’s kids. And the trail’s 5-foot width was designed to allow adaptive equipment, strollers, and groups to traverse the trail without crowding.
And through it all, experts and volunteers donated their services. Archeologists waived fees, Green River High School students welded benches, the nearby Rock Springs sign shop printed designs, and the city of Green River lent resources. John knocked on doors and applied for grants. But nothing topped the family-owned local construction company, Searle Brothers Construction, that donated trail building and construction services valuing approximately $1 million.
To reach the finish line, Lauren connected this dedicated group with us, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands. With the support of a Lands to Love grant, Tom and GBTF purchased signage detailing the history of the Skyline Trail. The partners will also use the funds to revegetate the site’s wind-blown hills in the coming months.
On May 16, 2026, their great idea became a reality. The Green River community gathered to officially open the trail and unveil the new signage designs. The event was hosted by the Dustin Shillcox Foundation and the GBTF.
The ceremony was filled with excitement and sentimental moments that show the power of local communities have in uplifting each other and their public lands. Dustin reflected proudly on the project, which “made it possible for me to enjoy the town I love.” Surrounded by his kids and familiar faces, the Green River native acknowledged the towns’ contributions and professed his thanks before focusing on the ringleader himself.
The Skyline Trail, designed to be accessible for visitors of all abilities to enjoy the outdoors in their backyards, was ostensibly Tom’s idea. But Dustin found a deeper purpose behind Tom’s tireless quest. Tom, through the creation of Skyline Trail, had given him direction at a time of profound change following his accident.
“He’s a hero, and he saved my life. [With this project], he was giving me the tools I needed to continue on with my life,” Dustin said.
And for that, he had a surprise – and a special message – of his own.
“People come up to me and say, ‘Hey Dustin, I love the trail, but I missed the turnoff,’” Dustin shared, unveiling a street sign. “To me, there’s no better way to make this a spot on the map. When people need to know where to go, they can look for Tom Wilson Way.”
Of course, for Tom, John, and other taskforce members, the credit is entirely to Dustin (and Searle Brothers Construction) for making a space for visitors of all ages and mobility needs. Dustin’s initial donation made the vision possible, but his presence inspired others to see themselves and their loved ones on the trail.
About the Foundation
As the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Foundation for America’s Public Lands serves as a convener, partner, and fundraising catalyst to help ensure the health and stewardship of America’s public lands and waters today, and for the future. The Foundation has deployed more than $11.5 million in impact since it started grantmaking in 2024.
To learn more about the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, visit americaslands.org.
