Trail tale

Sullivan West Elementary opens Outdoor Classroom and Nature Trail

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — They’ve done it again. Through cooperation, teamwork, unity of purpose, unselfish devotion and $10,000 dollars secured from the efforts of State Senator John Bonacic, Sullivan West Elementary School celebrated the official opening of the Outdoor Classroom and the Community’s Nature and Fitness Trail on Tuesday, September 30, with a 10:00 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony and flag-raising. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and Bonacic attended.

The latest improvements are part of the Phase II project that continues improvements that began in the early 1990s, when a group of volunteers and coaches got together to build what is now the Lauren Hughson softball field. After that project was completed, another community push resulted in the building of the Community Athletic Field Complex across the street. With the combined donations of time, equipment, material and money, $1 million worth of work was done for approximately $20,000. A budget vote to provide $750,000 from an escrow account to build the only eight-lane track in the tri-county area at the time was approved by 75 percent of the taxpayers.

In the new century, Sullivan West and Sullivan Renaissance were born. Jeffersonville Enhances Main Street (JEMS) was formed as one of the first Renaissance groups take advantage of the grant money being offered. After a grant for a beautification project, JEMS allocated its winning monies for “youth recreation and development.”

Research failed to turn up any public places in Jeffersonville available for developing. That’s when JEMS approached the Sullivan West school board for permission to start Phase II of the Athletic Field Project. Sullivan County BOCES Heavy Equipment classes, under the direction of teacher Robert Hayes, took over the massive amount of earth moving to be done. Gary Myers Excavating worked hard to carve the nearly three-quarter-mile trail that winds its way around the perimeter of the athletic fields. Benches along the trail were constructed by Brian Mullally’s Materials Processing Class. Area businesses generously donated materials or discounted prices. The bridge was built by volunteers Pete and Dawn Erlwein and children, Anthony and Michael Durkin, Scott and Jim Erlwein, Pat Clifford and Charlie Schadt. All of the mulch was spread by Jim and Austin Erlwein. Gary Myers Excavating donated lots of mulch (his daughter Danielle Myers is on the cross-country team.)

JEMS pays for the fuel for equipment that will help to create a new baseball field, a regulation-size football/soccer field and another regulation-size softball field that will cut into the football/soccer field when in use. Around the perimeter the cross-country trail was created.

Fifth-grade teacher Kelly Erlwein, who is in charge of the new outdoor classroom project for the elementary classes, conferred with JEMS. It was decided that completing the trail now as a fitness/nature combination would make a great 2008 Renaissance project for JEMS. Additional funding for the outdoor classroom came from an Environmental Development Grant from Sullivan County Renaissance and a grant from the Sullivan County Teacher Center.

Dawn Erlwein got the Junior JEMS division to help raise funds. They did a weight-loss competition with the high school teachers versus elementary teachers versus community members, and held a carnival on June 1. JEMS has received positive feedback from people in the community who use the trail for fitness. Best of all, the cross-country team has an official course on school property and elementary kids are now able to enjoy their lessons outside, too.

On September 23, the Bulldog harriers continued their undefeated season as they hosted Tri-Valley and Livingston Manor for the trail’s debut. (See “Trailblazers,” page 40).

For a photo album of the trail and outdoor classroom click here.