County Opens 2-Mile Fitness Trail

In his continuing effort to promote fitness and health through his "Healthy Nassau" campaign, County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today unveiled a new two-mile Fitness Trail in Eisenhower Park. He was joined by Nassau County Parks Commissioner Jose L. Lopez.

The trail provides 20 attractive and simple fitness stations that incorporate a variety of exercises, such as stretching, pull-ups, sit-ups and balance walking. Each station has posted instructions that include additional information, such as a target heart beat guide. The trail is suitable for all fitness levels.

"This Fitness Trail is a terrific addition to Eisenhower Park and provides all our residents with a very structured and accessible exercise regimen," said Suozzi. "This is one more reason to come out to this beautiful park and either begin or continue a fitness pro-gram."

The trail is on the west side of Park Boulevard bisecting the park, with the first station located near the field house and playground by parking field No. 2 (near Hempstead Turnpike). From there, the trail winds north past the Aquatic Center and Lakeside Theatre and then heads south back toward the starting point. The trail will be open during park hours, sunrise to sunset.

The low-maintenance fitness stations are made of a mix of treated Southern yellow pine timbers and steel tubing. The $10,000 cost of the stations was underwritten by the Manhasset-based Nassau County Sports Commission.

A second Fitness Trail, underwritten by Goldman Sachs & Co., was also recently completed in Christopher Morley Park, a hilly 98-acre park in Roslyn-North Hills. The County plans to add addi-tional fitness trails, also at no cost to taxpayers, in other parks on the South Shore.

At 930 acres, Eisenhower Park is the largest park in Nassau County, providing a range of attractions, including three 18-hole golf courses, a driving range, the Nassau County Aquatic Center, dozens of athletic fields and courts, picnic areas, and playgrounds, among other activities.

Healthy Nassau, Suozzi's campaign to make Nassau the healthiest county in the nation, builds upon existing initiatives and adds new ones in order to sustain a healthy environment (focusing on air, land and water), while encouraging healthy living (tending to bodies, minds and spirits). Along with the new Fitness Trail, Healthy Nassau initiatives include: seeking a ban on trans fats and putting calorie counts on menus; working with other large municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore mass transit options; continuing to preserve the County's remaining open space; operating an organic farm at Old Bethpage Village Restoration; providing space for a Farmer's Market offering fresh, local produce; the "Biggest Loser" Weight-Off Competition for County workers, and seeking a state-authorized increased cigarette tax to discourage smoking.