LIBERTY — Residents in Sullivan County have a new healthy walking trail to enjoy. The trailhead is located right off Sunset Lake Road, in between the Veterans Cemetery and our Health and Human Services complex in Liberty.

County officials, employees and the Summer Youth Employment Program team were all there last Wednesday for the unveiling of the new trail. The two quartermile loops wind through scenic woods.

“A heart healthy trail is necessary for all people living in Sullivan County. Every minute that we spend being active is a minute well spent,” said Lyle Mincheff, youth programming coordinator for Sullivan County. “We're just happy that we have supportive legislators and supportive county government that wants to see these young kids do something beneficial, values their time and pays them accordingly.”

It was hard work for the eight young people who labored for two summers to make the trail a reality. Before members of the Summer Youth Employment Program could go for a walk they had to blaze the trail, demarcate its path, clear it of any brush or other debris and spread wood chips throughout its length.

“The idea is that, with the hard work that they're putting in is going to teach them skill sets that they can use going forward,” Mincheff explained. “What the Summer Youth Employment Program does is gives them the skills and tools they need in order to be effective once they graduate from high school and continue on to their future endeavors.”

According to Mincheff, there are currently 72 young people across the county who have found work through the Summer Youth Employment Program.

County Parks and Recreations Director Brian Scardefield said his department was involved with Workforce Development to oversee the project. They also worked with the Department of Public Health to get a renaissance grant, which paid for the information boards and benches. “I give all the credit to the workforce group. They did all the hard work,” he said.

Scardefield also hopes it will further the county's efforts to encourage healthier and more active communities. “We're hoping that the employees up here at the Health and Human Services complex can enjoy the trail, and the public also.”