New trail could connect health center parking lot to Loop Trail

Jefferson County Health Center officials are looking into extending a walking path to connect its gravel parking lot to the Jefferson County Loop Trail.

?Chuck Espy made a great suggestion for us since we are trying to promote wellness at the health center,? Health center administrator and CEO Deb Cardin told the board of trustees during their meeting held the end of September.

Espy recommended extending the walking path from the west gravel drive south along the west side of the pond to connect to the trails.

?He outlined that this would make a continuous loop for us from the trail to the parking lot and back to the trail; essentially, this would be a loop around the berm,? said Cardin. ?Chuck has coined this the ?JCHC Wellness Trail,? and he, as well as the leadership team, feel this could be a very exciting addition to our overall campus plan, with a large community impact.?

Espy proposed, because of the proximity to the Maasdam Barns and the Jefferson County Loop Trail, those attractions could be highlighted as well as the health center?s property, Cardin continued.

?He says this could be as basic or expansive as we would like it to be,? said Cardin. ?He is working with Larry [Mitchell, the health center?s engineer] to get some detailed estimates. Chuck also asked Ron Blair and Larry Nash, with their expertise on the trails, to assist Larry on layout [and other details]. They hope to present some ideas, as well as costs, to the leadership team.

?If we decide this makes sense, we believe it would be more efficient and economical to do the grading and graveling while the equipment is on site this fall,? she continued.

?It makes perfect sense,? said trustee Greg Hanshaw. ?Why in the world wouldn?t we do it??

Cardin said she would continue to pursue the proposed trail project and bring costs back to the board of trustees.