Mike and Elaine reflect on years of grassroots advocacy, collaborative river restoration and environmental stewardship rooted in personal passion and long-term vision. Along the way, hear how a kitchen-table brainstorming session that started with “fat chance” evolved into a decades-long campaign to remove the Gorge Dam — because sometimes, big ideas start small. 

You’ll also find out how Elaine accidentally crashed a wedding in a wetsuit and why planting invasive trees isn’t the environmental silver bullet everyone hopes for. Plus, Mike and Elaine get real about how parks aren’t magical stormwater sponges (spoiler: we’re full of water already) and why saving clean water means thinking bigger than just timing your showers. 

This episode celebrates the resilience of the river and the people dedicated to its revival, reminding us that rivers know where they want to go – we just need to listen. 

For more, visit ⁠bit.ly/freethefalls ⁠ 

Follow Summit Metro Parks:  

Facebook: ⁠summitmetroparks ⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠summitmetroparks ⁠ 

X: ⁠metro_parks