Editorial

Exercisers enjoy new walking trail, YMCA classes

Monday, October 19, 2009

If it could be done outdoors, someone was doing it this weekend. Boating, cycling, running and walking joined the usual fall chores of raking leaves as the temperature climbed above 80 degrees on Sunday.

Many took the opportunity to try out the newest section of McCook's walking trail, recently completed from East M Street, down the former Kelley Creek Drive, around the corner and through the park to East Fifth Street. From there, users cross the street to Phase I of the walking trail, which ends up at East H.

The project has endured criticism from a few people who have noted that McCook has plenty of walking opportunities already, in the form of sidewalks, but a stroll down a purpose-built walking trail soon shows the advantages.

From cyclists and roller skaters to couples walking hand-in-hand, users welcome the extra width of the pavement, not to mention the lack of dangerous interference from vehicular traffic and steep curbs associated with many conventional sidewalks.

That, plus the exercise stations make for a refreshing, invigorating day enjoying some exercise in the fresh air.

A path to Walmart is no longer planned as part of McCook's walking trail project, but a conventional sidewalk is.

It's not unusual to see a young mother trying to push a baby stroller along the highway, either on the shoulder or bumping through the weeds off the pavement. We could also imagine many of the "walkers" who now get their exercise strolling around the store getting at least some of their mileage in getting from home to the store and back.

A sidewalk to Walmart is likely to be busy, and "official" walking trail or not, we would like to see it built just as wide.


Neither will bad weather be an excuse for not getting enough exercise. Classes like the YMCA's Breakfast Club, A.M. Boot Camp and Yoga are attracting plenty of participants now that the board of directors agreed to waive class fees for YMCA members.

It was a great move during a time of economic stress, just the sort of time that exercise can make a lot of difference.

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