A Reflective Respite
Stark Parks Mindfulness Walk offers a mental-health breather for those who need it
By Caitlin McCully
The benefits of spending time outdoors have long been documented by writers and naturalists. Henry David Thoreau once said, “An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day,” and in the wise words of John Muir, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” While those in the mental-health field stress the importance of taking a break from sitting too long, increasing activity, acquiring a number of steps in a day, and taking timeouts from projects and tasks, still, anxiety, depression, and addiction are a reality for many in this stressful, technology-filled world.
Photo: Louise Michaels
Although Stark County, Ohio, is home to dozens of parks, more than 120 miles of trails, and public-gathering places, no space had yet been dedicated to mental health and guided reflection. Partnering with the Stark Mental Health and Addiction Recovery agency (Stark MHAR), Stark Parks set out to create a space at Petros Lake Park designated for meditation and self-care. From here, the concept of the Mindfulness Walk originated.
Thoughtful Planning
The location for the Mindfulness Walk was chosen with several factors in mind, ranging from meaningful to practical. Petros Lake Park, located in Perry Township, is centrally located in the county, and has a network of existing trails. The space offers varied terrain, including woodland, open fields, meadows, and lake views. The park is also a significant location as Perry Local School District was recently the site where six students took their lives during the 2017-18 school year.
After some discussion, the agency decided to make the walk similar to an exercise trail. Usually, stations along the path prompt users to stop and complete a certain number of push-ups, pull-ups, etc. Stark Parks and StarkMHAR wanted the project’s design to mirror that concept, but with mindful activities at each station instead.
Photo: Mallory + Justin & The Heartlanders Collective
The chosen route, almost one mile long, utilizes three existing trails, spreading out each station about every tenth of a mile. Station themes were in two categories, one with natural features and the other with traditional meditation activities. Stations include:
Welcome and instructions
Nature and breathing-centered
Stones stacking
Labyrinth
Music/sound
Stepping stones
Nature sights and sounds-focused
Traditional Zen sand garden
Water meditation and gratitude
Reflection on the journey
Each station features a sign that prompts the user to perform a specific mindful activity, followed by a question to reflect on that activity. The text provides a simple but unique meditative experience. Design details include soothing colors and fonts for signage, while avoiding sharp corners and edges on the various station components. The logo, designed by StarkMHAR, uses a tree in the center that subtly resembles a brain.
Support And Surprises
Stark Parks’ budget for the walk was $10,000 for construction and materials, which was matched by StarkMHAR. Every penny of the $20,000 was used for this project. With a conservative amount of money budgeted, both agencies had to find ways to be as resourceful as possible. In addition to leaning on the community partnership with StarkMHAR, the park district made this project happen because local businesses generously donated or sold their materials at cost. The pavers for the stepping stones, the bricks for the labyrinth, the culvert pipe for the sand garden, the decorative coating on the pipe, the aluminum directional signs, both log benches, and the entire “moon gate” arch entrance were donated or sold for a nominal cost. The topics of mental health, addiction, and suicide prevention were causes that local businesses could get behind and justify supporting financially.
The partnering organizations held two openings at the Mindfulness Walk to promote this new community resource. The first opening was held solely for the area’s first responders as a dedication of the site. It gave them the chance to navigate the trail at their own pace, with a smaller group, symbolically being the first ones to take the walk. The grand-opening event for the public was held the following weekend on June 1, 2019. It was open-house style with a variety of activities, and staff members were at each station to teach users how to maximize their experience on the trail. The event for first responders drew 25 attendees, and over 200 people turned out for the grand opening. Promotion of the Mindfulness Walk continues today with print, web, radio, and social-media advertising by both agencies.
As with any new project, the Mindfulness Walk had its challenges. The $20,000 budget proved to be barely enough to cover costs, even with an impressive number of donations from local businesses and individuals. During the planning phases, small portions of the project associated with the walk stations were delegated to local Boy Scouts as Eagle Scout projects. Some of the projects were appropriate, but others were too complex for a scout to build. It was a definite learning experience for the scouts and Stark Parks, teaching lessons in accountability and the consequences of not following through on a commitment. In the end, two scouts were not able to complete their projects, which put extra work on the operations crew, making meeting the deadline all the more difficult.
Worth Its Weight
With outreach, education, and dedicated awareness programs at the site, the feedback for the Mindfulness Walk has been overwhelmingly positive and impactful. A Walk for Suicide Awareness with 175 participants was recently held at the site, with more programming planned for the future. A study through a local university will measure individuals’ feelings following use of the walk, and other programming is in the plans for 2020. Additionally, in February 2020, Stark Parks was awarded the esteemed 2019 Governor’s Award from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association for the Mindfulness Walk project.
The Mindfulness Walk was created to be a sustainable reprieve for those who need it. Countless visitors to the site have shared their photos and experiences, as well as the positive impact the walk has had on their mental health and daily routines. In just under a year, the walk has brought new visitors to the parks, gained recognition statewide, and pioneered a new outdoor space for mindful reflection.
Caitlin McCully is the Marketing Assistant for Stark Parks in Canton, Ohio. Reach her at cmccully@starkparks.com.