Great parks and trails can make a big difference in a community's health and well-being.
And
Olivia Glenn, New Jersey Conservation Foundation's South Jersey metro regional manager, is making a difference in the Camden area through her efforts to increase parks and recreation.
In November, the Camden County Board of Freeholders honored Olivia with a Sustainability Award. The same month, she was named vice chair of the Circuit Coalition, which is working to create a network of connected pedestrian and biking trails in the Philadelphia-Camden metropolitan area.
"Getting on The Circuit trails is good for us, as individuals and as a community," says Olivia, a Camden native and mother of two. "On a personal level, it can improve our health and make us happier, as studies have shown. On a community level, there are transportation, environmental, economic and social benefits. Investing in green always gives back!"
The Circuit's vision is to connect 750 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails in the greater Philadelphia area. Olivia's favorite Circuit trail is the Camden Greenway Phase One Loop, especially the section running through Farnham Park in Camden City. "Farnham Park was my childhood playground. Today it remains incredibly beautiful, yet the potential remains for it to be even greater."
There are more happy trails to come! In the next year, Olivia will continue working to turn Gateway Park in Camden County into a place where local families enjoy nature and exercise ... and another vital link in The Circuit. To learn more about Circuit trails, go to
http://connectthecircuit.org.
