Honoring outstanding contributions to our regional environment
For his tireless dedication to preserving the scenic beauty of Highway 243
Jay Mulder, a retired landscape architect and familiar figure along Highway 243, is being honored with the 2025 Greenwood Award for his extraordinary commitment to maintaining our scenic highway. For over 14 years, Jay has voluntarily picked up litter along Highway 243, from Idyllwild to the U.S. Forest Service Vista Grande station beyond Pine Cove.
Working in 3-mile stretches, Jay collects and properly disposes of litter carelessly left by those using the highway, roadside, and scenic pullouts. He separates recyclables and uses the recycling bins at the state park in Idyllwild, demonstrating his commitment not just to cleanliness but to environmental sustainability.
"I do it because it makes me feel better, and I encourage more people to do the same," says Mulder. His dedication has helped preserve Highway 243 as a state scenic highway and contributed to Idyllwild's reputation as having the "cleanest forest in America."
Jay embodies the spirit of the Greenwood Award through his quiet, consistent service to our mountain community. As one nominator noted, "With no reward other than the satisfaction of doing a job that makes our community more attractive and more welcoming to residents and visitors alike, Jay is one of the quiet, unassuming angels that seem to gravitate toward our beautiful mountain village."
Join us today at the Earth Fair to celebrate Jay's outstanding contribution to our community!
The Greenwood Award was established to recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to protecting and enhancing our regional environment. Named after Richard Greenwood, who was the first recipient in 1992, this prestigious award has become a cherished tradition of the Idyllwild Earth Fair.
Each year, the Earth Fair Committee selects a recipient who exemplifies dedication to environmental stewardship in our community and region.
Karin and Richard Greenwood with the award plaque
The Greenwood Award is presented during a special ceremony at each year's Earth Fair. The award is a symbol of our community's appreciation for those who work tirelessly to protect our natural environment.
Do you know an individual or organization making significant contributions to our local environment? We invite you to nominate them for the 2026 Greenwood Award. Nominations will be accepted starting in early 2026.
Submit a Nomination