Aspirus Stanley Hospital and Clinics is using one of Wisconsin’s greatest assets to fuel opportunities to improve health and wellness.
 
Wisconsin’s outdoors offers prime opportunities to walk, bike, swim or take part in any number of different activities.
 
With support from Aspirus Stanley Hospital, The Stanley Lions Club spearheaded the development of a Community Bike Trail aimed at improving access and safety for bicyclists. The 2.2-mile trail connects Chapman and Oriole Parks in Stanley with a 10-foot-wide path.
 
Chapman Park was also selected as a location for a Trailside Sign project in partnership with the Wisconsin Bike Federation, Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Aspirus Health. The set of nine trailside signs with QR codes allow families and community groups to watch short videos, access downloadable slides, and then practice skills at their own pace or on their own schedule. This educational opportunity aims to help riders at any level learn skills and tips to keep everyone safe. The signs even have bike-friendly driver tips to create a better sense of community with everyone sharing the road respectfully.
 
“These projects complimented each other as a unified theme to encourage safe and healthy activities in our community,” said Deenah King, Community Health Improvement Lead, Aspirus Stanley Hospital.
 
In the nearby Granton School District, a $4,000 grant in partnership with the Clark County Eat Right Be Fit Coalition provided the necessary funding for a “story walk.”
 
The project plan called for the seasonal use of three different books to be broken up into sections with each placed on a sign and stationed at points along the trail at the Granton School Forest. All the books carry environmental themes to educate people taking a walk down the trail. 
 
“This is something the entire community can use to be active and learn about the environment,” added King.