[quote style=”2″]$11,000 Grant Comes from Good Shepherd Health Foundation[/quote]
Blue Mountain Community College’s Eastern Oregon Higher Education Center in Hermiston will soon have a new walking path that borders the college facility, thanks to an $11,100 grant from the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation.
The pathway will be available with open access for use by the community, and will offer a safe and scenic alternative to walking or running near or in the roadway. In addition, students often have little time between classes to exercise, so the pathway will offer an ease of access to exercise and relieve stress throughout the day without having to leave campus. The pathway will also be incorporated into the curriculum of several of BMCC’s health and physical education classes.
The grant dollars will fund Phase I of the project, which will develop 1,800 feet of a 4-foot wide walking path on BMCC’s property in Hermiston on Southeast Columbia Drive. The funds will also be used to purchase two benches with Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation logos on them to place along the walking path and to honor the grant award.
“We’re very excited about this project as it’s been in development for about three years now,” said Harvey Franklin, Associate Vice President of BMCC Hermiston. “This project will benefit the entire community and help with the quality of life in our area. We’re very appreciative of the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation for its generosity in helping us realize this pathway.”
Phase II of the project anticipates expanding the walking path to encompass neighboring properties including the Oregon National Guard, Stafford Hansell Justice Center, and the State of Oregon Employment Office, all of which reside on Southeast Columbia Drive.
