Karla Beasley, a longtime community leader with a career at Goshen Health and Wellfield Botanic Gardens, is the new assistant director of the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition. Living just a half mile from an access point, Karla and her family use the trails nearly every day, all year long. “It’s one of the reasons we remain in Middlebury,” she says. From marathon training with her running group to road biking during COVID, the trail has become an integral part of her life. “Some of the greatest assets the trail offers are its safety, the beauty of the countryside, and how well-maintained it is.”
Her connection to the trail runs deep. Karla praises the original visionaries of the Pumpkinvine for their dedication. “It was humbling to hear from some of the founders at the Annual Celebration last summer. The incredible vision and perseverance they had to stay the course and keep pushing for this trail is so commendable,” she says. As a passionate advocate, Karla is excited to help expand trails to more communities across Elkhart County.
Karla’s husband, Jared, has also volunteered with the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition and even helped build the Community Health Clinic near the trail in Shipshewana. For their family, the trail has been a place of connection and lasting memories, from teaching their kids to ride bikes to cross-country practices and dog walks. “We’ve had so many memorable moments on the trail,” she said.
