FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO DEFIANCE COUNTY EAST TRAIL ENHANCE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
DEFIANCE, OH –
Defiance, OH – The Defiance County Board of Commissioners, Defiance County Health Department and the Defiance County Wellness Committee are pleased to announce they have upgraded the Mental Health & Wellness trail behind the Defiance County East Complex, located at 1300 E. Second Street.
What was once a stone path has been transformed into a fully paved trail, thanks to the support and funding from the Defiance County Commissioners, a Defiance Area Foundation grant of $20,000 and a NatureWorks Grant through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for $19,351. This upgrade provides a smoother, safer, and more accessible surface for all community members to enjoy year-round.
Additional funds were provided by the County to install workout stations along the trail. These funds were recommended for use on the trail by the Defiance County Wellness Committee for the last two years and totaled $19,000. The stations—designed for both children and adults—encourage physical activity and promote health and wellness in the community.
The Defiance County East Mental Health Trail can be accessed from any of the nearby facilities: the Defiance County East Building, the Sheriff’s Office, Maumee Valley Guidance Center, or Mercy Health Defiance. The trail features four exercise stations, offering equipment for upper and lower body workouts. This includes balance steps, pull-up bars, a seated and wheelchair accessible chest press, and stretching stations for users of all ages and fitness levels.
“Walking was reported in the 2024 Community Health Assessment as the number one physical activity,” said Jamie Gerken, Health Commissioner. “Updating this trail to be inclusive and to add evidence-based activities to reduce stress and anxiety has been a goal for some time. We are thankful to the Defiance County Commissioners, the NatureWorks grant, and the Defiance Area Foundation, for providing these improvements and future plans for the Defiance community.”
Paving the trail and the workout equipment are the start of a larger plan to re-brand the trail as a mental health and wellness trail. The trail was originally created with signage through a grant with Mercy Health to improve heart health. Over the years, there have been rising mental health concerns. Future improvements to help reduce stress and feelings of anxiety include mental health signage, benches along the trail, outdoor musical equipment, and an electronic kiosk to connect the community to mental health resources.
Jessica West, Public Information Officer, added, “By paving this path, we have now made it accessible to all in the community—children, adults, strollers, wheelchairs, and more. The exercise equipment is a huge bonus for this section of Defiance, where there is not a close-by park or exercise facility. We know that mental health is crucial in overall wellness and hope this trail will help improve both the mental and physical health of all who use it.”
These enhancements represent a continued commitment to creating healthy, active spaces for residents and county employees alike. Commissioner Phipps added, “This all-inclusive trail represents partnership, progress and the pursuit of better health for all. May every step bring an opportunity for people to bond as they enjoy the trail”
The Defiance County Health Department & the Board of Commissioners invite the public to explore and enjoy the newly improved trail.
The Defiance County Health Department works to protect and improve the health of all residents through education, prevention, and community partnerships. Learn more at defiancecohealth.org/. For more information about the Community Health Assessment, visit powerdefiancecounty.org.
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Contact
Jessica West
Health Promotion Specialist
Public Information Officer
jessica.west@defiancecohealth.org
