Get FIT Trail Opens at Stockton University

Galloway, NJ -- A new ¼ mile fitness trail opened on Stockton University’s Pinelands campus, and it opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, April 11.

The trail is available to the public for exercise and recreation, and features 10 stations for stretching and strength training, the University said in a release.

Students in the School of Health Sciences are using the trail to help individuals with developmental disabilities lead healthy lifestyles.

Alysia Mastrangelo, professor of Physical Therapy, Joan Perks, associate professor of Nursing, and Mary Kientz, associate professor of Occupational Therapy, developed Get FIT at Stockton, an exercise and nutrition program that helps individuals with developmental disabilities live healthier lives.

The program, now in its third year, is a partnership between Stockton, Family Resource Network (FRN) and The Arc of Atlantic County.

Jillian Maisch, an Occupational Therapy graduate student, said that the new trail is “beneficial for students and our partners.”

Students are developing inter-professional relationships and gaining real-life experience helping clients who have developmental disabilities, now at a specially designed site with exercise equipment and detailed signage explaining each exercise, she explained.

“Health isn’t just exercise. It’s about nutrition and an overall healthy lifestyle,” Maisch said.

Mastrangelo said that the trail “truly demonstrates what collective impact is. We are making it possible for all to exercise here at Stockton. As a health care provider, I really do believe that exercise is medicine and prevention is the key to a lot of disease and illness, and if we can all just get out there and walk, whether you are walking, running or rolling, you can do it around the trail here.”

Theresa Bartolotta, dean of the School of Health Sciences, commended the Stockton faculty members who took the lead in bringing the trail to fruition.

“They are demonstrating what our mission is for the School of Health Sciences to improve the health of the community that surrounds us,” Bartolotta said.

The trail was installed by a team from Stockton’s Facilities and Plant Operations.

The attached map of the trail was provided by Stockton University