After a year of planning, a ceremony marking the opening of the BGSU Fitness Trail took place on April 15, 1982 at 4:00 PM.
The Fitness Trail was sponsored by the Student Recreation Center and described by Dr. Terry Parsons, SRC director, as “an extension of the fitness program for the University and community.”
Participants experienced the cardiovascular benefits of a running program through a self-guided and self-paced outdoor, 1.75 mile long, paved jogging trail, as well as strength and flexibility gains made possible through the use of eighteen intermittent exercise stations along the route. The combination of fitness options was specifically designed to assure a total experience for participants.
The Fitness Trail was located on the eastern edge of campus with the start and finish adjacent to the Ice Arena. The course followed the sidewalks from the Ice Arena to the football stadium and around the north side of the stadium. The location also provided runners with the option to use the quarter-mile Whittaker Track. It offered three course lengths, eighteen different exercise stations, and an intensity of nine differing degrees.
The Fitness Trail was open daily from dawn to dusk to people of all ages and levels of fitness. Trail maps and usage scorecards were available at the SRC Office. Introductory sessions were offered April 19-23, 1982.
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