School to decide if it's worth getting the fitness trail back in shape

CORNWALL — The school board has launched what seems destined to become a townwide discussion about the fitness trail on the Cornwall Consolidated School grounds.

Likely some will have forgotten it was even there. Most of the 10 exercise stations, made of metal tubing painted a deep blue, were taken down for the last school renovation project, which was completed more than five years ago.

Since then, the subject has been raised from time to time, but has never reached the point of a proposal. More of the stations were removed last year to make way for the solar voltaic panel installation.

It is officially the Jeffrey Lake Fitness Trail, installed not long after his death from leukemia in August 1991 at the age of 28. His mother, Norma Lake, said the school had meant a lot to Jeffrey and a memorial there seemed right. She and several friends made the project happen. Jo Loi, who was the school’s physical education teacher at that time, suggested the fitness trail. Her students used it for years as part of the gym curriculum.

Lake told The Journal she would like very much for the equipment to be reinstalled. Talking about it sparks strong emotions for her.

But while many people will feel that it’s important to revive the memorial, the financial aspect could also weigh heavily in the decision.

The board’s Wellness Committee has done an initial investigation that included an inspection by a representative from CIRMA, which provides liability insurance and risk management for the town and school.

Principal Robert Vaughan said safety standards that now apply would require the removal of cement footings and some surrounding trees and bushes. A 6-foot “fall zone� encircling each station would need a foot of mulch. A cost estimate has not been done, but Vaughan said, based on his experience elsewhere, the mulch alone might cost thousands of dollars.

School board members said the first step is to find out if the current gym teacher (and the community in general) would make use of the trail, which was intended for both school use and public access.

In that vein, it was suggested that a decision, and maybe the cost, be taken on by the town, and that grant money might be sought.

School board Chairman Becky Hurlburt, who is also the town’s recreation director, will begin a discussion with the Park and Recreation Commission. The Board of Selectmen will also be advised of the matter.

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