K.I. SAWYER, Mich. (WLUC) – The K.I. Sawyer community is halfway to completing its fitness trail rebuilding project.
For years, the Sawyer Community Alliance has been working towards turning this once military physical training track into a one-and-a-half-mile scenic opportunity — for your next exercise or nature walk.
“Other people have tried in the past and for one reason or another, they weren’t able to do it,” said K.I. Sawyer Recreation Coordinator Ryan Lipinski.
The Army veteran and long-time community programmer has gathered Forsyth Township Fire Department and community members over the last couple of years to clear the trails.
This group wants your help on the finishing touches — to restore the numerous fitness stations along the path.
“The trail is designed to increase balance, stability, range of movement and endurance,” Lipinski said.
The project’s overall goal is to make the trail year-round for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing — for all ages and all physical abilities.
“For me, I have Parkinson’s Disease. And the number one thing that you can do besides medications and surgeries is to get out there and do stuff. So having (the fitness trail) in the community not only makes it fun and inviting for everybody, it’s literally prolonging my life by slowing my disease,” explained Lipinski.
In addition to overall wellness, Lipinski said the project is also aimed at preserving Native American history, by making trail signs bilingual.
“The native tribe used to live around here long before if it was ever an air force base. We are working with the Sault Tribe in the hopes that we can make the (trail) signs bilingual, so that when you’re out here doing your exercises or doing the nature walk, you’re getting some education and learning a new language altogether,” he said.
The Gwinn non-profit organization, You People, has put together a GoFundMe page on behalf of the Sawyer Community Alliance — support the fitness trail project HERE.
Learn more about the project as well as updates through Lipinski’s blog, HERE.
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