If you regularly receive the Giant News, you’ll likely notice that this issue looks a bit different. Inspiring stories and timely updates about the Giant abound, but with this current issue, we’re proud to unveil a few of our latest initiatives: SGPA’s new logo and branding, and a revised mission statement.
A New Look
Thanks to a generous grant from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the SGPA Board had the opportunity to work with a talented graphic designer to formalize and unify SGPA’s appearance. One of the most exciting changes was the creation of a new, but timeless, logo. The design prominently features the iconic ridgelines of the Sleeping Giant, resting atop a bed of pine and oak trees. This new logo replaces three different and disparate images that had previously been used to represent SGPA, and will better allow visitors and supporters to recognize SGPA and our positive impacts on the park.
Building off of the new logo, the SGPA Board formally defined the “look” of the organization by adopting a set of brand guidelines. Derived from words such as wild, natural, rugged, sylvan, and budding, SGPA’s new brand includes two shades of green that evoke thoughts of nature and foliage, a light brown that pays homage to the Giant’s rocky outcroppings, and two shades of blue that connote the flowing currents of the Mill River. The new logo and associated colors will be phased into SGPA’s printed and online materials, including a refreshed website that we hope to release in the coming year.
A Refreshed Mission
As a Giant News subscriber or SGPA supporter, you know about the positive impact we have on the park and its visitors. For those who are unfamiliar with SGPA, our mission statement is an important way to communicate our work to the public. After taking a close look at our existing mission statement, as well as samples from other non-profits and park friends’ groups, the SGPA Board recently approved the following as our updated mission statement:
The mission of SGPA, in partnership with the State of Connecticut, is to build upon a legacy of conservation and stewardship to expand the park and the opportunities it offers for physical recreation, spiritual renewal, and enjoyment of and learning about the natural world.
This refreshed mission statement underscores the important roles that SGPA has played in the park’s history, reaffirms our commitment to working in tandem with the State of Connecticut, and defines the major program areas of the organization. This mission statement inspires us, and we hope it will inspire others to join us as volunteers and supporters.
Planning for the Next 100 Years
The timing of these updates is not random. As we approach SGPA’s centennial in 2024, we wish to ensure that SGPA’s next 100 years will be just as impactful and productive as our first 100 years. We’ll continue working to protect and care for the Giant. We’ll keep the trails open. We’ll research and share the park’s history. We’ll engage new audiences in our work. Guided by our updated mission statement, and supported by our new logo and branding, SGPA is better prepared to accomplish all of this, and more.
This story was written by SGPA board member, Aaron Lefland, and originally published in Issue 127 (Spring 2022) of SGPA’s seasonal newsletter, Giant News.