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From left: Hikone residents Suzie Gibson, age 10, Angelica Johnson, age 10, Laquita Johnson, age 11, Antonia Brann, age 11, and B'nay Gardenhire, age 9, hold up a sign at the grand opening of their community's new fitness trail on Saturday morning, made possible through the help of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

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• From left: Hikone residents Suzie Gibson, age 10, Angelica Johnson, age 10, Laquita Johnson, age 11, Antonia Brann, age 11, and B'nay Gardenhire, age 9, hold up a sign at the grand opening of their community's new fitness trail on Saturday morning, made possible through the help of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!fitness/cache/081112-AJC-Hikone-fitness-trail-01_fullsize.JPG
• Community Action Network Executive Director Joan Doughty, left, cuts the ribbon for the new Hikone fitness trail with Rotary Club of Ann Arbor President Len Stenger. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!fitness/cache/081112-AJC-Hikone-fitness-trail-02_fullsize.JPG
• Hikone residents Antonio Brann, age 11, center, Adonious Johnson, age 12, left, and William Atkins, age 11, toward the first station of the Hikone fitness trail. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!fitness/cache/081112-AJC-Hikone-fitness-trail-03_fullsize.JPG
• From left: Hikone residents B'nay Gardenhire, age 9, Suzie Gibson, age 10, Laquita Johnson, age 11, and Angelica Johnson, age 10, do sit-ups at a fitness station. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!fitness/cache/081112-AJC-Hikone-fitness-trail-04_fullsize.JPG
• Hikone resident William Atkins, age 11, does a pull-up at a fitness station. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!fitness/cache/081112-AJC-Hikone-fitness-trail-05_fullsize.JPG
• From left: Hikone residents Laquita Johnson, age 11, Angelica Johnson, age 10, Suzie Gibson, age 10, and B'nay Gardenhire, age 9, balance as they walk down a beam at a fitness station. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!fitness/cache/081112-AJC-Hikone-fitness-trail-06_fullsize.JPG
• Hikone resident Laquita Johnson, age 11, right, smiles as she puts on her new t-shirt saying she completed the fitness trail. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!fitness/cache/081112-AJC-Hikone-fitness-trail-07_fullsize.JPG

Residents of the Hikone community in southeast Ann Arbor have a new healthy addition to their neighborhood. This morning was the grand opening of a new, 10-station fitness trail.

Community Action Network staff members along with members of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, aided by Hikone's youth, installed the trail during two Saturdays in May and June.

"I like it," said 10-year-old resident Suzie Gibson, who likes doing the leg stretches and push-ups best.

10-year-old Angelica Johnson also likes the push-up station. Her sister Laquita Johnson, 11, said, "I like the balance beam."

Their brother Adonius Johnson, 12, said, "I like to work out, especially my leg muscles and abs."

Stations on the fitness trail include a balance walk, calf stretch, hamstring and quad stretches, sit-ups, leg raises, leg stretches and push-ups.

"They helped install this equipment," said Reginald Dalton, director of HIkone's community center. "It's theirs. We used the stations as part of our summer camp program. If they didn't participate, they couldn't go swimming or on field trips."

At this morning's grand opening, Dalton and a group of children who live in the Hikone community, a public-housing development for families, demonstrated all of the fitness stations. The stations are located along the perimeter of the neighborhood with the bucolic Mary Beth Doyle Park in the background.

"Hikone families can't afford to join an expensive gym, and transportation is often not reliable," said Joan Daughty, executive director of the Community Action Network. "Now residents of all ages only have to step outside their door to get exercise."

The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor donated $7,500 for the project, according to Len Stenger, president of the club. His club contributed $5,000 and the Rotary District contributed Rotary International funds of $2,500.

The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor invited local nonprofits including the Community Action Network to apply for the grant, and Doughty's proposal was selected.

"This particular project met the criteria of 'helping kids succeed,' which governs many of our efforts," said Stenger. "The trail, in addition to just being available for casual use, provides a venue for part of the programs for the Hikone Community Center. It gives the residents easy access to fitness, addressing an overwhelming need to stay healthy."

"Our Hikone kids, and particularly our teens, are very interested in working out and sports," said Doughty. "We can take them to the YMCA if we arrange it ahead of time, but this takes a lot of coordination, transportation and staff time. At the same time, we're aware of the obesity statistics nationwide and among low-income populations. This seemed like a really good match."

"We don't get a lot of things out here," said 11-year-old Antonio Brann. "We just had the basketball court, and now we can work out on the fitness trail too."

According to Doughty, the basketball court was built as a result of a resident's request to the Jenny Jones talk show, which paid for it to be built.

Resident Melissa Ollila, who has two grown sons and a 5-year-old grandson, is pleased with the easy access to the fitness trail.

"It's more motivation since it's right here, and it encourages more outdoor play," said Ollila.

"It means getting fit for any age," said resident Betty Jones. "A lot of us can't go to the gym. You can go to this anytime you want to. You just have to be willing to go."

Hikone is operated by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission and consists of 29 townhouses occupied by families including about 75 kids. The Community Action Network coordinates programs for community members ranging from academic support and enrichment programs to recreational activities, work readiness skills, food distributions, eviction prevention services and community building.