By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
BRISTOL, Tenn. ¨C The Family Fit Trail at Steele Creek Park is under construction, and supporters say they¡¯re anxious to see people trekking on the mulch-covered, metabolism kick-starter.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for noon Oct. 20 to celebrate the opening of the one-mile fitness trail.
Terry Napier, director of leisure services for the city of Bristol Tennessee, is overseeing construction.
"We started weeks ago, just mowing the 7-foot-wide trail," Napier said. "I went out there Saturday before last and counted 15 people walking on it ¨C and that¡¯s before we ever plowed it or laid mulch.
"It really made me feel good. I feel a lot better now that I know the trail will be used."
The 2,200-acre park is the third-largest municipal park in Tennessee, with miles of hiking trails, a lake, golf course, paddleboats, shelters and a nature center.
Now, the park will include the trail inside its loop road. Fitness equipment for adults, youth and children will be clustered in three stations along the path. Signage will provide distance indicators, as well as instructions for using the equipment.
Wellmont¡¯s Bristol Regional Medical Center donated $15,000 for the course, and the Massengill-DeFriece Foundation provided $5,000 for stretching stations, benches and trash receptacles at the three fitness stations.
The city¡¯s leisure services staff is providing the labor to build the trail and to assemble and install the fitness equipment and signage.
"This course provides so much more than just a place to walk," Napier said. "This course can be used for a total body workout, and we¡¯re hoping more young people will get involved by coming outdoors to exercise."
Several hospital staff members are involved with Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center & Park, a local nonprofit that helps promote and maintain the park, said Bart Hove, BRMC chief executive officer.
"They and City Manager Jeff Broughton have been looking at ways to make the park more user-friendly, and the group wanted to put in a walking trail there," Hove said.
"It¡¯s just a win-win situation all the way around," he said. "We¡¯re promoting a healthy lifestyle, and that¡¯s what parks are all about."
Jeremy Stout, who manages the park¡¯s nature center, said the nonprofit group formed a community-based committee in November 2006 with a goal of developing the fitness course.
"We have miles of hiking trails, but they wanted something that would appeal to a wider group of people, including advanced hikers," Stout said. "But that¡¯s not the trail¡¯s only use. It can be used for walking, running or hiking."
He complimented Becky Wilkerson for getting the subcommittee formed, searching for donors with similar goals and following through to see the project become a reality.
Wilkerson was president of the group when the plan was formulated and acted upon, Stout said.
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