Salae Maxwell, left, and Shelby Merritt, both of Cookeville, take advantage of the new bottle filling station and drinking fountain at Cane Creek Park during their morning walk on Monday. The fountain was funded by the Putnam County Health Department.
New water station keeping Cane Creek Park trail users hydrated
COOKEVILLE – A refreshing drink of water. That’s what awaits Cane Creek Park trail users thanks to a new drinking fountain and bottle filling station that was recently installed through a partnership between the City of Cookeville and Putnam County Health Department. “It is important to stay hydrated, especially during physical activities,” Lisa Bumbalough, county health director, said. Rick Woods, Cookeville Leisure Services director, agreed. “We have so many individuals who use our park for walking, running and bicycling that having a hydration station along the way makes good sense,” he said. “We are grateful to Putnam County Health Department for their contributions to our park and to a healthier Cookeville.”
The stainless steel, tubular pedestal water station is located at the Cane Creek Park pedestrian path entrance, not far from the Cane Creek Recreation Center. It features a bottle-filling area as well as a drinking fountain basin. Funding for the water station was provided by the Putnam County Health Department, which promotes walking and walkable communities to increase physical activity among residents.
“Being physically active is one of the most important steps Putnam County citizens of all ages can take to improve their health,” Bumbalough said. “It helps to prevent and reduce the risk of chronic diseases and premature death. Walking also supports positive mental health and healthy aging.” Bumbalough added that Cane Creek Park is an ideal place to achieve those healthy goals. “It is a beautiful community park that offers many opportunities for recreation and families to enjoy the outdoors together,” she said. “The walking path is utilized daily by citizens, and we hope this addition of the new water fountain will encourage many more visitors to the park.”
The fountain’s location is also convenient for the park’s mountain bike trail users since many of them park at the Cane Creek Recreation Center and take the pedestrian path to the bike trail. Now they can fill their water bottles on the way.
Cane Creek Park’s water station is the second of its kind among Cookeville’s city parks. The first was installed last fall at Dogwood Park.
Cane Creek Park is open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. through Oct. 30 and 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 31 through Daylight Saving Time (mid-March) at 201 C C Camp Road in Cookeville. To learn more, call Cookeville Leisure Services at 931-520-4386.
