Local group hopes to boost fitness, proposes new trails

Childhood obesity is at epidemic proportions and all anyone has to do is look around to see it, Dawn Jones, Nevada Trails Coalition member, told members of the Nevada Parks Board during their Wednesday night meeting.

The Nevada Trails Coalition is a branch from the Multi-Sport Club, she said.

"In particular this is due to lifestyle choices in the areas of nutrition and physical exercise," Jones said.

She said this will lead to future health problems for those children when they are adults.

She said that a recent visitor from England told one of her daughters that he was surprised to see so many overweight people in Nevada.

Jones said that part of the answer is to increase the amount of exercise children receive. The Nevada R-5 School District is working to increase the amount of activity children get during the school day and the city is providing facilities like the new community center and the enclosed shelter house at Marmaduke Park.

"What we are here for today is to ask for additional help to link those two entities, the Nevada R-5 School District with as many recreational facilities as possible in our area by way of walking/cycling trails that would provide safer passage for those who wish to use alternative modes of transportation.

"Not only would this provide increased access to these facilities for the many children whose parents work during the immediate hours after school is dismissed, but also encourage additional exercise in getting to the different facilities by cycling or walking," Jones said.

In addition to the cycling/walking trails, Jones told the board that the Trails Coalition would like to see:

* An ordinance passed allowing non-motorized cycling on already existing city-maintained pathways.

* Dedicated cross-walks (as on Austin Boutlevard at Cottey College) to provide safer passage on Atlantic Street at Walton Park and on Ash Street across from the Community Center.

* The placement of additional bicycle racks at public facilities and on the Square.

* Bicycle lanes on busier streets such as Austin and Ash.

Jones said that this project will cost a considerable amount of money and that some of the money should come from the city's 1/2 cent recreation sales tax as was promised when it was renewed in 2005.

She said that she believes there also some additional sources of money available to build the trails and the Trails Coalition would like to help to find additional funding for this project.

Jeff Post, parks board chairman, said that a lot towns have bike trails on the public streets.

"Will we need to expand the streets?" Post asked.

Jones said that what was on the public streets were bike lanes and a bike trail is off the roads.

She said that what they would like to see is a bike trail/walking trail, which would have to be created.

"The trail would have to be wide enough for bikes to go around pedestrians," Jones said.

Jones told the board that she would like for the parks board to come the to Trails Coalition's next planning meeting Oct. 14, at the YMCA.

Post said that if he could not attend he would try to have a representative from the board attend.

The parks board also approved letting the Nevada Neptunes hold a two-day swim meet July 3 and 4, 2010, at Walton Pool and to hold the daily practices at Walton Pool.