When St. Louis County was making its master plan, it asked residents what they most wanted. One of the big answers was walking trails. And after thinking about it, the county staffers realized that whenever they did see someone walking in parks, it was always couples. They thought, “What can we do to get the whole family out on the trail?”
St. Louis County Parks Foundation president Mark Ohlendorf, says this is what sparked the creation of the 1.4 mile, $125,000 Family Fitness Trail in Spanish Lake Park in north St. Louis County. One of multiple renovation projects the Foundation is planning, the trail offers four separate children’s play stations with nature-themed attractions and exercise equipment for adults.
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The thought was, says Ohlendorf, that the kids could play and the adults could exercise, both parties entertained.
But after the official ribbon ceremony last Thursday, August 23, it was the kids on the exercise equipment rather than the adults.
That’s the main idea, though, Ohlendorf says: Giving families ways to exercise and play together is what this park will do for the St. Louis County community.
The Foundation has already received positive feedback, with one resident after another coming up to staff members during the ceremony to profusely thank them for this addition to the park.
The next project is Jefferson Barracks Park, and then West County. Aside from weather delays, the projects take as much time as the foundation needs to fund them. A third of the funding for new trail in Spanish Lake Park came from multiple donations as small as $25 or $50.
Ohlendorf is hoping Jefferson Barracks Park can work the same way. “Any help is greatly appreciated,” he says.
There are further details about projects and ways to donate at the foundation website.
