Troy Farwell is no stranger to the Polly Ann Trail.
Everyday the 36-year-old Oxford Village resident and his family are on the 14.2-mile non-motorized path walking, running or biking.
‘I would probably say that we’re on the trail 200 days out of the year,? Farwell said. ‘It’s all right in my backyard so it’s fantastic.?
Farwell will be spending even more time on the trail, which extends through Addison, Oxford and Orion, since he was hired as its new manager last week.
As manager, Farwell will oversee all aspects of the trail including public relations, promotions, planning events, obtaining funding, and overseeing maintenance and improvements.
For this, the Polly Ann Trail Management Council agreed to pay him $20 per hour, not to exceed 60 hours per month.
‘I personally felt, and I think the board felt, he brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm regarding the trail,? said Tony Albensi, an Oxford Village councilman who sits on the trail board.
Albensi said Farwell’s experience coordinating events and writing grants, his focus on promoting the trail and his own ‘avid? trail use made him the ideal candidate for the job.
Farwell’s emphasis on promoting the trail to increase awareness and usage ‘was one of the things that we were really impressed with,? according to Albensi.
‘The PR thing is the big thing that I want to push,? said Farwell. ‘It’s amazing how many people don’t know about it. There’s people who live in Waterstone who don’t even know though the trail’s there and it’s in their backyard.?
As with everything else in life, promotion is the key to success.
‘If nobody knows about your store or your business, you’re not going to get any business,? Farwell said. ‘It’s the same thing when it comes to the trail. If we want more improvement, more volunteers and more money, we need to make more people aware of it.?
Farwell has plenty of experience with promotions, marketing and designing websites since founding his own health-related businesses involving retail products and wellness counseling.
He also has experience researching grants as a state-licensed social worker, who used to be employed with St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Mercy Network.
His wife, Laura Richards-Farwell, a 1990 Oxford High graduate, makes her living as a grant writer and recently won an award for a movie she produced about mental health using a $2 million grant she wrote the proposal for.
‘I’m really good at the research, finding the grants and she helps me with writing it,? Farwell said.
As for trail experience, Farwell helped establish and improve the Holdridge Lakes Trails for mountain biking enthusiasts in Holly.
It all started with him getting permission to clear two miles of overgrown equestrian trails back in the 1990s. Today, there’s more than 23 miles of trails in five loops.
As the Polly Ann Trail manager, Farwell said he’ll strive to garner public input and make the trail more user-friendly.
‘I’d like to put up a booth to talk to people on the trail every once in a while,? he said. ‘Find out what they like, what they don’t like, see what they’re looking for.?
While a lot of people seem to use the asphalt portion of the trail which runs from W. Drahner Rd. through the village, Farwell has noticed that once he gets around Lakeville Elementary, he doesn’t see much trail use between there and Leonard.
‘I could ride out there all the way to Leonard and back, and I might see one person,? he said. ‘On the weekend, I might see two or three ? more horse people than anything else.?
To encourage usage, Farwell believes the trail needs more parking areas, benches, picnic tables, porta potties and possibly even some play areas for kids who get ‘antsy? in the baby jogger or bike seat while their parents are walking, jogging or bicycling.
‘It needs some improvements,? he said.
Farwell understands ‘antsy? kids all too well having three of his own ? Olivia, 10; Luke, 5; and Colton, 3.
He’d also like to look into obtaining some grants to install solar-powered lights with motion-sensors along the trail that would only activate when a user approached.
This would enable people who wish to run at night or early in the morning to ‘feel safer.?
‘My wife won’t run on the trail at night because she doesn’t feel comfortable.
Farwell would also like to get local businesses to ‘take ownership? of the trail by sponsoring sections of it and being responsible for the clean-up and maintenance of their section.
‘I think when that happens, you get pride and when you have pride, great things happen,? he said.
To help increase funding for the trail, Farwell wants to look into the possibility of allowing some advertising such as spots where users could grab a menu or coupons.
With some time, effort, public interest and more funds, Farwell believes the Polly Ann Trail can achieve the same level of success as the Paint Creek Trail.
‘You look at Paint Creek and you look at Polly Ann. I think we’re at the beginning stages of where they’re at,? he said. ‘I see the trail very similar to Paint Creek in 3-5 years with more volume, more people on it, more involvement.?