County issues a trail challenge
NORRISTOWN>> Montgomery County wants you to take a hike, a jog or a bike ride this summer on its ever-expanding trail system.
The Montco Trail Challenge, launched this past weekend along the Schuylkill River Trail, requires trail-goers to enjoy at least five of the county’s 10 eligible trails this summer. As an added incentive, besides the fresh air, exercise and scenery, those who complete the challenge will be rewarded with a medal.
Participants are asked to find a symbol located at the trailheads of each of the county’s trails and record them either online or in a special card book being distributed at the parks. Once five symbols are recorded, participants are eligible to submit their entry to receive a medal. Montgomery County Director of Health Promotion Brandi Chawaga called the challenge “similar to a scavenger hunt.”
“The Montco Trail challenge is a family-friendly initiative that will highlight our award-winning trail systems while promoting the benefits of physical activity,” Chawaga said.
The challenge was kicked off June 4, as officials from the county’s health, planning, assets and parks departments were on hand to share information with passersby at the Schuylkill River trailhead. Participants have until Sept. 4 to complete the goal of using five trails.
The challenge was presented at the June 2 meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and received an enthusiastic endorsement from Commissioner Val Arkoosh, who also serves as the interim medical director for the health department.
“I’m going to call this the ‘ No Excuses Project’ because now you can get out, you have no excuse, you can get out, this is free of charge and it is really a fun idea,” Arkoosh said. “This is exactly the type of thing that comes when we get departments to work together.”
The materials used to set up the challenge, along with the medals that participants will receive, were paid for using a grant from Pennsylvania Department of Health.
“They are a token of achievement and they are a symbol and reminder to keep motivated and keep going,” Chawaga said, later adding, “We have plenty of medals to go around.”
Participants can get started by going to www. montcopa.org/trailchal- lenge to register for the challenge or to find more information about where to get the challenge card books in person.