It was fun to see the cross-country flagging set up on the field by the new tennis courts when I arrived on campus Wednesday morning. What an exciting day for the cross-country teams, coaches and fans to have our inaugural race for interscholastic competition on campus! We had almost 60 FPD students competing at the varsity and middle school levels and hosted approximately 200 additional athletes from area schools.

If you haven’t walked the course or taken a hike along the new 1.5-mile loop, you’re missing a very special trail. About 95% of the Peake Cross Country Trail is in the shade of the trees. As you walk in this quiet and peaceful setting, it feels like you’re miles away from any city. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a variety of wildlife – deer, foxes, turtles, a lot of different types of birds. I have even seen a turkey and, of course early in the day, some amazing spiderwebs.

Thank You

A big thanks to Ken Garvin and his crews responsible for the loop extension and the construction of the new start and finish field area. Thank you as well to the many volunteers who help with finishing touches so we could welcome our guests. Thanks also to Allen and Betsy Peake for their continued investment in the cross country program. Thank you to SuperSod, Landscape Associates, and David Sparrow for their generosity and labor with the sod and grassing.

Coming Up Next

We anticipate expanding the trail network over the next months. We plan to add a full 5K loop and side trails. The side trails will lead to some of the unique treasures for nature study and exploration. We hope to eventually build a new nature center and boardwalk near the pond. These will complement and enhance the learning experiences available to our school and beyond.

If you’re on campus and have a moment, bring some tennis shoes. Enjoy some exercise and God’s creation right in FPD’s own back yard.