Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
New trails are a walk in the park
Nursery kids help launch project
Youngsters from the nursery at Coatbridge’s college campus put their best feet forward to help launch a colourful walking project.
A trio of colour-coded trails have been created around neighbouring Dunbeth Park, encouraging local residents of all ages to take part in the “walk this way” initiative.
Students and staff of New College Lanarkshire worked together to create the three routes – with the blue route covering half a mile, yellow covering three-quarters of a mile and red being the longest one-mile route.
Each is marked out with corresponding footprint logos on the pathways, incorporating elements of designs by former Coatbridge Campus art student Kamil Sznurkowski and current HNC art and design student Donna Cowan.
Among those attending the launch of the trails was Janet Watson from Friends of Dunbeth Park, who said: “It’s great to have staff and students taking an active interest – this is one of the best parks in Coatbridge and people come from far away to make use of its facilities.”
Fulton MacGregor, the Coatbridge & Chryston MSP, also joined staff and students at the event and said: “I use the park myself for running, and when I first heard about the scheme I thought it was a brilliant idea.
“This is absolutely brilliant and fits in well with the Scottish Government’s health policies. The footprints that have been created by students are a really good legacy.”
College officials now hope to create similar walking routes close to their Cumbernauld and Motherwell sites.
Learner engagement officer Ross Brand is encouraging students and visitors to borrow pedometers from the college’s Coatbridge reception to record their steps in Dunbeth Park.
He said: “Participating in an activity as simple as walking lets people get out in the fresh air and be reinvigorated on their return.”
Art and design lecturer Sheila Boyle said: “Students produced the designs as an extra to their coursework and were very willing to get involved; it was good to be part of a project that benefits the local community.”