Spend time with friends: Connecting communities
Many people have been seeking alternative ways to gather because of the pandemic. Near the top of that list is outdoor recreation.
Though the pandemic seems to be easing in many ways, the popularity of outdoor activities isn’t.
Local groups such as Trail Adams in Adams Township continue promoting and enjoying the benefits of spending time outside.
“In the beginning, we had two goals,” said Shelley Wood, president of Trail Adams.
The first goal was for Trail Adams, which formed four years ago, to establish places for residents to walk or run without having to go on busy roads.
The second goal is community connectivity.
“We envision trails connecting downtown Mars to Adams park and to the Mars schools,” Wood said. “This trail would also connect about five new neighborhoods.”
Ideally, Wood said Trail Adams will connect the Adams Township park to the Mars school buildings. These trails would allow families to walk to school as well as provide space for student athletes to work out.
Biking, equestrian
The bigger picture includes walking trails between communities and natural trails that make use of the area’s rural parts. Wood also said the group hopes to cater some trails to biking and equestrian interests.
Adams Township and its surrounding areas are conducive to trails in a number of ways.
Wood said specifically, developed communities have connecting property through public and homeowner’s association land.
“Using this free space helps connect our neighborhoods to each other and also to our larger attractions, like our schools and our parks,” Wood said. “We also envision trails along old railroad tracks or current streams.”
Wood said the best trails in the southwestern part of Butler County can be found in community parks, such as those in the Zelienople-Cranberry-Mars areas.
The Adams Township park trail, which is always expanding, is about 1.3 miles and provides a variety of scenery.
Wood said that, hopefully, the township’s “more rustic” expansion will attract hikers, bird watchers and dog walkers.
“Our goal is to expand our trails so that they exist throughout the communities and attractions, without the need to go exclusively to our local parks,” Wood said.
With friends
Wood herself uses trails to spend time with friends. She said she’d love to be able to wake up on a Saturday morning and cycle to a local coffee shop or walk to a food truck event.
In the end, Wood said that’s what trails are really about.
“Trails are one of the most basic ways to bring a community together,” Wood said. “Trails also bring people together in ways you wouldn’t expect.”
Trail Adams is always open to volunteers. The group has a Facebook page and participates in many local community events during the year.
Learn more about Trail Adams on the Facebook page “Trail Adams Area.”
