A public fitness course in dire need of repair and updating at 30 years is now on track for a substantial makeover in the community of Watervliet. A $125,000 fundraising campaign for the Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet Parcourse has moved today from a mere vision to reality thanks to a kick-off plan that will see the rehabilitation take place over several stages between now and the end of 2020.
Redevelopment plans for the Watervliet Parcourse advanced today with renovations expected to begin in 2018 and be completed in several stages by the end of 2020.
Currently, the Watervliet hospital’s Parcourse is essentially a 1.1 mile walking/running track with a gravel base. After thirty years, however, the overall site is in disrepair, and the existing track base is worn. The course is currently utilized by therapists and their rehabilitation patients, as well as by local athletic teams, physical education classes at Watervliet Middle and High Schools, and older adults from a nearby apartment complex. The track is, and always has been, open to the public and free of charge.
Renovations for the Parcourse will feature two quarter-mile loops. One loop will be asphalt to accommodate individuals with disabilities that may need to use wheelchairs or walkers and the other loop will consist of crushed limestone for runners and walkers who prefer a softer landing. Each loop may also feature up to four stations with different types of professional grade exercise equipment offering varying degrees of difficulty for all fitness levels.
The project will offer naming opportunities and each donor will be personally recognized on signage displayed throughout the Parcourse. Tax deductible online donations can be made at www.lakelandhealthfoundations.org/PARCOURSE. Checks should be made payable to: Community Hospital Foundation, c/o Parcourse Campaign, 1234 Napier Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085. For more information, you can call (269) 927-5145.
