The dedication of Phase Two of the Mayo River Rail Trail was this past Friday afternoon. It was a great day for such an event, and I’m sorry that I had to be out of town and could not attend.
If you haven’t been down to walk on the new sections, I encourage everyone to go. It has been great to see so many people utilizing the trail.
Go see the trail for what it is, the river, the asphalt path and the seeded grass. Look also past these solid structures, and you will see so much more. You will see a path to becoming a better person. There are probably hundreds of miles that have been logged on the trail since the first half mile was constructed.
I have watched how the trail has transformed people, both mentally and physically. I have seen the nurses who walk during breaks or lunch to relax and catch their breath before returning to their shift. I have seen older individuals who needed a flat and safe place to walk to help them ward off immobility. I have seen couples meet after work and walk to discuss their day.
On several occasions, I have seen families teaching their young kids how to ride a bike or the families with teenagers who created a family time instead of screen time on the trail. I see the individuals walking or running because their doctor told them they needed to move more. They did and started seeing results and liked how they felt.
In a county that has limited access to healthcare, should we not be doing all that we can to encourage our citizens to be healthy?
Rebecca Adcock
