To the editor:

Yesterday, I went for a physical. My weight was 179 pounds. My blood pressure was 110 over 62, and my resting heart rate was 49 beats per minute. Considering that, on Jan. 1, 2016, my weight was 258 pounds, the information that I got from the nurse made me smile. And I owe that smile, in large part, to the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department and the previous City Commission.

A couple of weeks ago, as I was nearing my goal weight of 179, my wife and I were walking on the trail behind Sports Pavilion Lawrence and she asked me, “Where do you think you’d be without this trail?” The answer, honestly, is nowhere near my goal. I’ve run that trail over 200 times in the past year and it is the primary reason I’ve been able to improve my health.

I’m writing today to thank the former commissioners and the Parks and Recreation Department for having the vision and commitment to provide such a valuable feature for the citizens of Lawrence. The soft trails have been good for my knees and ankles, the hills and valleys have provided plenty of challenge, and the view of nature has kept me outside exercising when a Netflix binge was calling.

It’s not an overstatement when I say that the trail has been a life-changer for me. For any readers who haven’t visited the trail, I encourage you to give it a try. For Lawrencians who believe that this city is capable of building great things, I encourage you to vote for commissioners who have a grand vision for a grand city.