The Peanut City Cloggers have been a staple to the city for more than three decades, and one of the founding members said goodbye on Thursday night.

Donna Riley stepped down from her post after 25 years as president of the Cloggers at the board of directors meeting and gave the chance for someone new to take the reins.

“It was a very difficult decision, and I thought very long and hard about it for the last year,” Riley said. “I’ve been there for 35 years. It’s time.”

Riley was one of the founding members of the group after learning to clog when she was 30 years old through a program with Suffolk’s Parks and Recreation Department. The group she clogged with decided to start its own team, and the Cloggers were born in 1983.

“There were only a dozen of us, and we practiced in my garage for years before the Bethlehem Ruritan Club offered to let us use their place,” Riley said.

The team has been practicing at the Ruritan Club ever since.

The Cloggers have children of all ages dancing with them, and parents can recall only fond memories of having Riley teach their children.

“We’ve traveled together to different events, and she coordinates things and does their music,” said Joe Shannon, father to one of the dancers. “She’s got a heart of gold and always there to help.”

Riley had a way of holding everything together, and finding someone to fill her shoes will be no easy feat, Shannon said.

Riley doesn’t do too much clogging nowadays, but she was known for teaching the beginner’s class for the Cloggers.

Though she got a late start in clogging, Riley was inducted into America’s Clogging Hall of Fame in 2008, and that trend continued for her team as well. Since 2003, every year a member of the Cloggers makes the All-American teams.

These memories are a big part of what Riley will miss as she starts a new chapter of her life.

“I’ve created lifelong friendships and been to places and met people I never would have met. We’ve met goals in terms of clogging,” Riley said. “We’ve had numerous dances through the year named to the Clogging Hall of Fame.”

Leaving is difficult for Riley, but with the culture changing with the Cloggers, she is ready to step back and give more of her time to her family.

“Well, all three of my children clogged, so it’s been a big part of their lives. They’re married now and have their own lives,” Riley said. “They always say, ‘Mom, you’re always clogging. What about your grandkids?’”

With all of this new free time, Riley wants to be more involved and go to her grandchildren’s ball games and dance recitals.

“I wish PCC much luck and I hope the legacy continues,” Riley said.