There’s something unique about a community that prioritizes its outdoor, open space. Here Whidbey Island has made a commitment to ensuring there are forested spaces that invite you in—to engage, reflect, and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

On this day, the Trustland Trails called to me. It may be located just off Washington State Route 525, but you hardly notice that proximity as you meander through trails with cedars and swordferns or hear the faint chorus of the resident frogs. Tall cedars stretch towards the brilliant blue sky and, just overhead, a small airplane takes off from nearby Whidbey Airpark. Vibrant chartreuse and sage-colored moss beautifully hugs the trees, while evidence of the encroaching spring weather is found among the budding floras.

Within this 200-acre protected park, the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District has continued the stewardship of the natural space that has been an ongoing effort for more than a century. It is a sacred space—yet it invites you to experience and feel it. From a picnic shelter to accessible trails, visitors are encouraged to find themselves in nature. To walk along the maintained paths, to watch the robins dart through the underbrush, and to realize that by enjoying and respecting the space, we’re ensuring its existence for generations to come.