Statewide Health Improvement Program coordinator for Freeborn County Alice Englin has announced that a SHIP grant has been awarded to the Freeborn County Bike Trail Association.

SHIP centers on improving the health of Minnesotans by making sustainable, population-focused, evidence-based changes to policies, systems and environments that exist in schools, communities, worksites and health care systems.

According to a press release, these changes make it easier for people to incorporate healthy behaviors into their daily lives because the environment in which people live, work, learn and seek health care can either support or hinder healthy behaviors.

SHIP strategies are designed to be sustainable and affect a broad segment of the population. SHIP works to help Minnesotans live longer and healthier lives by increasing access to healthy food, physical activity and clean air.

The Freeborn County Bike Trail Association will use the grant to purchase three bike repair stations. These stations will be placed along the Blazing Star Trail for bike riders in Freeborn County to use.

The stations will be installed at the trail head on Frank Hall Drive in Albert Lea, Myre Big Island State Park and at the trails rest area in Hayward.

Bike Fixtation Stations enable everyone to maintain their bikes and make small repairs themselves. Each station has several tools attached to the station, an air pump and a like to online help for most simple repairs.

According to a press release, the Trail Association is excited to provide these repair stations for the biking community in Freeborn County.