Leaving a Legacy- Stephen S. Ball

You may not have heard of Stephen S. Ball’s name before but he’s had a profound impact on the Tahoe Rim Trail Association. The Association was a beneficiary of a large planned gift on behalf of Mr. Ball who spent his career working for his family’s engineering construction business. As a champion of individual civil liberties as well as an advocate for California’s remarkable natural resources, he believed one should respect nature by preserving open spaces.

Today the TRTA is able to continue its commitment to preserving the Tahoe Rim Trail and the open spaces it represents for future generations because of Stephen S. Ball’s planned gift. Over the past year, the TRTA board of directors designated a portion of his planned gift to be used towards the expansion of our youth programming. Fostering the next generation of trail stewards isn’t possible without leadership which is why the Association was thrilled to bring on an Outdoor & Youth Programs Manager who offers extensive experience working with youth in the global outdoor environment. 

In addition, the Board designated funds to purchase trail counters to help assess annual trail use numbers. This trail data is essential as the organization continues to see an increase on the trail exponentially and will help us plan and prepare for maintenance needs and obtain an accurate count on just how many people are enjoying the Tahoe Rim Trail each year.