Let’s Move Outside! on Washington Township’s Trail

A year ago, when we were looking for two new canine friends to fill the empty spots in our hearts left by the untimely passing of our labs, Happy and Scout, we thought we might like to try the opposite end of the size scale, but were concerned that small dogs might not be able to walk the long distances that we used to enjoy so much with our 100-pound dogs. 

Scout and Happy

Gina, owner of Salon Shag, assured me that her Yorkie could walk for miles and miles with energy to spare, so we adopted our two Cairn Terrier rescues, Nutmeg and Nora, expecting that they would be able to do the same. They haven’t let us down, and on the Washington Township trail, they proved their mettle.

Nutmeg and Nora at Washington Township Trail Marker

 The Washington Township trail was the third trail we completed in our quest to hike all 10 trails featured in the Let’s Move Outside! program, a collaborative between Erie Yesterday, Erie County Department of Health, and VisitErie. The 10 trails must be completed between June 1 and October 20, a 20-week period.

First, let’s talk a little about the confusion factor at this site set on Edinboro Road, designated by the Erie County Recreational Passport as the Veterans Memorial Park/Wainer Park Trail. The Veterans Memorial Park was obvious. It’s dedicated to all the branches of the military and is a dignified tribute to those who have given so much of themselves, sometimes in faraway locations, so that we have the freedom to follow our dreams here at home.

Which Way? Go Straight.

The Wainer Park trail is a bit less obvious, though, and instead of a wooded, bark-bedded trail, a dirt road seemed to be the way that the map set forth in the Erie County Recreational Passport. A sign that contained arrows pointing in two different directions didn’t help either, nor did the couple of mowed trails that led from the area of the Veterans Memorial. We decided to take the dirt road, and as we started along, I was concerned about how Nutmeg and Nora would do on the rocky surface. I needn’t have worried, because they didn’t seem to notice a thing.

Washington Township Goldenrods

Along the road grew goldenrods that reminded me of the new, lined paper tablets we received with each new school year at Our Lady of Peace, and the setting sun seemed to set them on fire. Other than the occasional vehicles that kicked up a sizable cloud of dust, the walk to Wainer Park was rather pleasant. It was fun discovering a park that we didn’t know existed, both of us having lived in the area for most of our lives.

 

Let’s Move Outside Overview

Corry—Corry’s Trail of Simple Pleasures

Erie—Perry 200 Commemoration Trail

Fairview Township—Pleasant Ridge Park Trail

Girard—Girard Trail

Harborcreek Township—Harborcreek Community Park Trail

Millcreek Township—The Greenway Trail

North East—North East Heritage Path

Union City—Union City Area School District Trail

Washington Township—Veterans Memorial Park/Wainer Park Trail

Waterford—Fort LeBoeuf Trail

Epilogue

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