Pat Breslin Named TLA’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year

When resident concerns about safety on The Landings’ community paths reached a critical point, one volunteer stepped forward to turn urgency into action. For his leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the well being of his neighbors, Pat Breslin (shown at right) is The Landings Association’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year.

Breslin is being honored for leading the Community Paths Task Force (CPTF), a group appointed by TLA’s Board to tackle increasing concerns about golf carts and other vehicles on The Landings’ extensive paths system, as well as the safety challenges related to shared multimodal paths. From January through October 2025, Breslin led a task force of 12 residents and 10 TLA and Landings Golf & Athletic Club (LGAC) staff members through an intensive review of safety issues, education needs, infrastructure improvements, and enforcement options.

The task force ultimately delivered 23 recommendations to TLA’s Board—10 related to infrastructure, 10 focused on enforcement, and three addressing other safety concerns. All were adopted. Several recommendations were implemented immediately, while others are being incorporated into future planning and budgeting.

Breslin and his wife, Debbie, moved to The Landings in 2016, after falling in love with Savannah and Skidaway Island’s natural beauty. He shared that the community stood out not only for its amenities, but for its people. Naturally, it made sense for him to volunteer his time for a cause that mattered so much to the safety and well-being of his community.

“The Landings is a genuine community, not just a neighborhood,” Breslin said. “Volunteering is part of the culture here. It’s what keeps this place going.”

That culture of service is something Breslin credits across the community, even as he receives individual recognition.

“I appreciate being recognized for my work,” he said, “but I hasten to point out the equally important contributions by so many other TLA residents who volunteer at all hours of the day and night—with First Responders, Security, and so many other important efforts.”

Breslin’s passion for community paths safety is rooted in personal experience. After two of his young children suffered serious injuries in a car accident, he has long been concerned about preventable injuries. His involvement intensified after repeated encounters with unsafe behavior on the paths and a particularly troubling incident involving his niece.

“I was upset by golf cart drivers who frequently pushed my bicycle off the community paths,” he said. “Once, our pregnant niece was tossed off her bicycle. That really stayed with me. I prodded TLA’s Board to clarify the Rule that moving carts must stay three feet away from pedestrians and bicyclists. I publicized the Rule in a TWATL article. I was pleased to contribute a huge slice of my life during 2025 to lead the Community Paths Task Force.”

As chair, Breslin organized the task force into three working groups focused on education, infrastructure, and enforcement. The infrastructure group produced a detailed, photo supported report with budget context, while the education group developed a months long series of articles published on TLA’s website (www.landings.org) and in its monthly digital publication The Landings Journal. This group also created a golf cart safety brochure you can find on pages 112-113 in the 2026 Resource Guide and Landings Residential Directory. Meanwhile, the enforcement team worked alongside Landings Security and TLA’s Governance Committee to review current Rules and Regulations regarding golf carts in the community and make recommendations for amendments or rewrites as needed.

Throughout the process, Breslin emphasized practical solutions and shared responsibility. “My best recommendation—and the cheapest—is simple,” he said. “Slow down and give other people space.”

TLA General Manager/COO Karl Stephens said he truly is in awe of the amount of volunteerism that takes place in The Landings. He added that volunteers like Breslin choose to impact positively the community and shape its character.

“Pat exemplifies the very best of volunteer leadership,” Stephens said. “He brought structure, discipline, and clarity to a complex and multilayered issue. His ability to guide a large, engaged group toward thoughtful, actionable outcomes has made a lasting positive difference for our community.”

TLA Board President Don Wurzel agrees with Stephens that Breslin is deserving of the 2025 Volunteer of the year honor.

“Pat provided the steady guidance needed to turn a wide range of perspectives into recommendations the Board could act on,” Wurzel said. “While every member of the task force played an important role, Pat’s leadership kept the work focused, productive, and on schedule. His service reflects the spirit of collaboration and care that continues to shape this community—on its paths and far beyond them.”

Looking ahead, Breslin encourages residents who are considering volunteering to choose opportunities that are meaningful—and social.

“Take part in something that really interests you, not a chore,” he said. “And seize the opportunity to make friends while you’re doing it.”