Gay contacted the communities along Four Mile Creek, involving them in investigating a much larger trail system, connecting with other existing and planned trails. She also wrote the first few grants that brought significant funding to the project. These included two from the National Parks Service, as well as REAP and the IDOT. The formal dedication of the trail was June 21, 2000. During the foll
owing year, several elected officials and community members discussed renaming the Four Mile Creek Greenway Trail to honor the years of leadership Gay had provided. This was announced by the Des Moines Register and came as a complete surprise to Gay. Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, Altoona, Bondurant, Ankeny and Polk County have renamed all of their sections to the Gay Lea Wilson Trail. She has continued to serve as the chair of this trail committee for the last 20 years, as well as serving on many other trails and wellness advocacy groups in Central Iowa. Gay has also served on the Des Moines Park Board, some of those years as President, the Pleasant Hill Park and Recreation Commission, and on the Pleasant Hill City Council.
