ST. MARYS, Ohio (WLIO) – Heritage Trails Park District has unveiled a new boardwalk and concrete trail for area nature lovers to enjoy.
The John and Alma Kuffner Boardwalk Trail is now open for hikers at the Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Nature Preserve in St. Marys. The half-mile, accessibility-friendly trail takes parkgoers through the woods, offering opportunities to spot various trees, plants, and animals. The trail is named after John and Alma Kuffner, who donated 15.8 acres of land to Heritage Trails so local residents could experience nature firsthand while improving their physical and mental health.
"The mental and physical health, that getting outside improves, and this is a easier, accessible trail that people can enjoy because its got a ramp that goes up to the boardwalk, and the boardwalk is 5-feet way so it's wide enough for strollers and things like that so it makes it a lot easier accessibility for different hikers of all levels that can't just go out and hike through a woods," says PJ Fought, Executive Director, Heritage Trails Park District.
Across the street from the Kuffner Nature Preserve, Heritage Trails has also purchased 70 acres of wooded land through Clean Ohio grant funding as the site of a future park.
