Recently in Oak Hill, Fayette Institute of Technology’s (FIT) Parks & Recreation program began reworking the McKell Trail, a section of the White Oak Rail Trail.
While reclaiming and cleaning up the trail, students are learning valuable skills they can take with them in the future: communication, teamwork, organization, and leadership.
David “Tug” Chamberlin, Parks and Recreation Instructor says, “Students have to communicate with each other, get organized, and then execute the plan. If you do not have the teamwork and stability, it will take a lot longer to build the trail, and it’s not quite as safe.”
Parks & Rec. students often look for a critical need within their communities when determining which service projects to complete.
“There are many reasons why this is an important project. It provides varied opportunities to people that are using the White Oak Rail Trail in Oak Hill. If people want to drop off to the side, hike or ride through the woods, it breaks up the monotony on the pavement. The health benefits of single-track trails through the woods are slightly increased because of its varied terrain; it’s not always the same straight course, you’re now going up and down and such, so these provide a little more eustress (good stress) to the body.”
The McKell Trail was originally designed and built by the Park & Recreation’s Class of 2015. Giving the local community more healthy options is creating real impact.
“There are a lot of people that use the White Oak Trail that are confined to the pavement- people in wheelchairs, people with vision problems, and others. But some use the trail to exercise as well. The Oak Hill High School Cross Country team uses this as part of their training because it helps their stamina running up and down some of the smaller hills that we have created.”
Chamberlin is quick to point out that service projects like this don’t happen without help from other agencies and businesses.
“We have several partnerships here in the Fayette County area. For example, the Oak Hill Parks & Recreation Department, National Park Service, West Virginia State Parks, Department of Natural Resources, the New River Trail Alliance, ACE Adventure Resort, and Adventures on the Gorge are all the organizations we work with.”
The design of the trail system is important to how long it will endure as Mother Nature tries to reclaim it.
“You always have to go back over the trail and cut out any branches or trees that have grown. You’ll always have that, but if designed properly, you won’t have to go back in and repair the entire trail completely.”
The maintenance work can be demanding, but it’s extremely rewarding for everyone involved.
Chamberlin says, “The students take away ownership from this project. When students or anyone create something that is used by future generations, whether that is next week or ten years from now, they will always know ‘Hey I built that; that’s mine.’
One day, I hope they will show their kids what they have done here.”
Aaron Jeffries, Parks & Rec. student, jokes, “God made dirt; we just made it better.”
