Putting together a handhold/leg lifter, from the left, are David Zutter, Don Pruyne and Bill Marshall, New Balance employees.

Two groups join to build fitness trail

NORWAY – The New Balance Foundation and the Norway Parks and Recreation Department have teamed up again to build a fitness trail at Lake Pennesseewassee Park.

The trail and the playground, installed last year through a donation from the New Balance Foundation celebrating its centennial year, combine to provide a safe, active environment for ages 2 and up.

The fitness trail was started years ago as an Eagle Scout project for Magna Melheus. Funds have not been available to install fitness stations until now.

The trail is designed for ages 12 and up with eight stations that provide a circuit to round out the large-muscle exercise routine. The stations include educational signs, sit-up/push-up bench, spring-up, chin-up, step-up/leg stretch pods, horizontal ladder, curved balance beam, beam run, handhold/leg lift, jump-touch beam and parallel bars.

The entrance to the trail can be found at the further end of the parking lot and winds around the trees between the boat landing and the playground areas. The elements for the trail were purchased from ME O’Brien and Sons, the same company that provided the playground.

The fitness stations and surfacing were installed by Norway New Balance Factory Associates Brian Fleming, Don Pruyne, David Zutter and Bill Marshall; Mike Thompson and Earl Thompson of Double T Fence in Oxford; landscape structures consultant Joel St. Pierre; and Deb Partridge, Norway Parks and Recreation director.

Lake Pennesseewassee Park is open to the public regardless of residence. Other features of the park include two beaches, a basketball court, sand volleyball court, a boat landing, picnic tables and benches.

The New Balance Foundation is a charitable foundation established in 1981 and funded by New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. Its mission is to support effective charitable organizations which perform humanitarian services for the betterment of children and the local community. For more information on New Balance, visit www.newbalance.com.