Tuesday, June 2, 2015
To celebrate doing business in the Detroit area for 75 years, Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. donated $7,000 to the City of Troy to build fitness trails in Huber Park. This woodland area is located adjacent to the Aquatic Center in the Civic Center.
By the end of 1978, the trails, including 20 exercise stations, were designed and in June 1979 they were completed and ready for use. The two trails shared warm-up stations, and along the each loop were stations for specific exercises including sit-ups, push-ups, and log lifts, as well as equipment for an obstacle course, chin bars, and a balance beam. The pathways were wood-chipped to cushion runners’ feet and deter bicyclists. Parks and Recreation Director Roger Kowalski recalled that “There are heart rate signs at each station which tell you how to check yourself,” but that the trails would not be highly monitored by the City, so “Everyone should check with their doctor before using the fitness trails.”
While the stations are no longer actively maintained, runners, hikers, and those seeking a quiet walk in the woods still frequent Huber Park. It is a green oasis along the heart of the Big Beaver Corridor.
Sources:
Oakland Press (Pontiac MI). 1978. Troy to build fitness trails. October 4.
Rollins, Suzie. 1979. Jogging trails nearly finished. Troy (MI) Eccentric, April 26.
To commemorate the City of Troy’s 60th Anniversary in 2015, we will publish a different story each day that highlights a person, discovery, or event that occurred locally, regionally, nationally, or even globally between 1955 and 2015 and that helped shape our lives and our community. We will try to post stories on important anniversary dates, but we also realize that dates are less critical than content and context. We will include the facts related to controversial stories, allowing our readers to form their own opinions. We invite you to read and comment on the stories. Your suggestions for topics are also welcome and can be posted on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TroyHistoricVillage. You can also email stories or ideas to the 365 Story Editor at ed@thvmail.org.
