Greene County Commissioner Rick Perales honored with the BTA’s Ralph Regula Award

Honoring former State Representative Rick Perales

Rick Perales received the Ralph Regula Award at Buckeye TrailFest 2024, held September 13–15 at Camp Mary Orton, just north of Columbus.

At every level of government, the Buckeye Trail Association depends on elected officials who understand the value of trails and their role in improving the Buckeye Trail experience. The Ralph Regula Award honors those public leaders who have made the Buckeye Trail—or Ohio’s trails more broadly—a priority in their work to create meaningful progress for outdoor recreation and conservation.

A record of public service and trail leadership

Perales has built a distinguished career as a public servant, beginning in Greene County, where he served as a County Commissioner after first being elected to the Beavercreek City Council. His appreciation for trails began through his work with Greene County Parks & Trails.

As he transitioned to the Ohio House of Representatives, Perales became an active and vocal member of the Ohio Legislative Trails Caucus—the first trails caucus in the nation. He attended multiple Trail Town dedications, including Yellow Springs as a State Representative and Spring Valley as a returning County Commissioner.

Perales also organized a State Trails Caucus hike on the Buckeye Trail in Greene County, introducing regional civic leaders to the trail’s impact as both an economic driver and a vital natural resource.

His consistent advocacy has contributed significantly to the success of the Buckeye Trail Association and its partners, earning him recognition as a true friend of Ohio trails for decades.

A shared love of trails

Perales’s wife, Rebecca Perales, is also a passionate hiker who has completed the Appalachian Trail in sections and plans to begin hiking the Buckeye Trail in the same way.