IYAA president/Italy EDC Board member Charles Hyles, Mayor James Hobbs and his wife Joyce, along with former and current city employees and citizens of Italy, help dedicate the new concrete walking trail installed around Upchurch Park in Italy. (Barry Byers)
Sophia Creighton and her daughter, Alex, try out the new walking trail with Ann Hyles and her grandsons, Tucker and Trip Russ. (Barry Byers)
Charles Hyles points out the lap markers. Whether you start the trail clockwise or counterclockwise, each direction has a sign installed for convenience. (Barry Byers)
A scenic little bridge allows water to drain from the fields to a nearby creek without disturbing the flow of trail traffic. (Barry Byers)
The walking trail follows the inside of a baseball field’s outfield fence. Charles Hyles is hoping to install a second fence to better separate the trail from any games being played game. (Barry Byers)
A slight incline in the trail as it exits the ball field proves to be challenging enough based on feedback from trail testers. (Barry Byers)
A construction photo of the trail shows the wet concrete ready to be smoothed. (Submitted photo)
A photo from the construction of the trail shows the concrete being poured and smoothed. (Submitted photo)
The walking trail takes shape and will soon be ready to help folks get in shape. (Submitted photo)
Former City of Italy council member, Jimmy Hyles, steers the tractor while his son, Charles Hyles, helps the hole digger punch the thru the stubborn terrain. (Submitted photo)
Former City of Italy council member, Jimmy Hyles, puts weight on the hole digger used to make holes for the cable wire posts. (Submitted photo)
Jose Luna and Creighton Hyles prepare to install posts into the ground that will follow parts of the trail. (Submitted photo)
Creighton Hyles drills holes thru the center of baseballs in order to pass a cable thru the core. The balls will help everyone to identify the cable wire which separates the walking trail from the parking area. (Submitted photo)
Case Hyles slides a cable thru posts to help keep the parking lot separate from the walking trail. (Submitted photo)
Charles Hyles helps put the finishing touches on the walking trail surrounding the game and practice fields at Upchurch Park in Italy. (Submitted photo)