City shows off new path at MLK park

LIMA - On a darn near perfect morning, Mackenzye Anderson skipped ahead of her family and soaked in the early sun. It was a relaxing, carefree moment made possible with a new multipurpose path at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

The city showed off its new $75,000 two-mile asphalt path at the park Wednesday as Allen County Health Partners announced a new walking club for the park next door to its health center.

The path, funded with grant money, has been in the works for at least two years, said Lima Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Ric Stolly. The path connects the health center to the Chestnut Street neighborhood to the park's north. Long-term plans call for linking the path from Chestnut Street to the River Walk. Dirt from the path construction and another project was used to create a new sledding hill at the park.

Rewa Banks, a registered nurse at Allen County Health Partners, will lead a walking program beginning Monday. The first eight-week sessions will be from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Participants will receive free pedometers and radio station 93.9 will be at the kickoff, Banks said. Anyone, not just Health Partners patients, can join the walks.

An important part of preventing and treating most chronic health issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure is getting moving, Banks said. She hopes to do that while also answering health questions.

Tonda Anderson, Mackenzye's grandmother, said she visits the park while waiting on prescriptions and loves the new path.

Tierra Thomas joined an inaugural walk Wednesday and said he often fishes at the park and welcomes the city's investment there.

Mayor David Berger said the path is a strategic investment of the city for the neighborhood.

"It improves recreation, transportation and health care," Berger said. "It's a lovely, almost contemplative morning today, and you can just feel your blood pressure lowering here."