Rural High Plains residents know the benefits of living in wide open spaces. But they’re also familiar with the drawbacks. One pitfall of rural living: It can be hard to access good places to exercise. Rural mothers rely on outdoor activities to promote health and well-being for their families,notes The Rural Blog.But they often struggle with the long distances they have to travel to find outdoor exercise resources.
Walking or running down a shoulderless country road is often the only option. But—especially in areas like West Texas where public land is few and far between—access to nature can be hard to find. It takes a concerted community effort to build a park or a playground, a walking trail or a running trail.
Some areas are getting creative. One rural town in Minnesota recently banded together to create an extensive bike trail system, a new ice arena, and a gym.