Oberwil, 12.05.2020
New Forest Parcours in Zug: an Inspiring trail for body and mind
In terms of local recreation, the City of Zug has now been enriched by a special attraction: a few days ago, the new forest parcours (Waldparcours: forest agility trail) in Oberwil was handed over to the public. On the initiative of the Oberwil-Gimenen neighbourhood, in cooperation with Zug Sports – the association for the promotion of movement and joie de vivre – as well as with the Mobiliar cooperative fund (Genossenschaftsfonds der Mobiliar), eleven well-thought-out posts have been created in the wooded area above the Klinik Zugersee, which promote fitness and skill on the one hand, and stimulate the perception of the self and nature on the other hand – partly in an artistic way.
The course starts at the final bus stop of Line 3, and offers two routes; a ‘relaxed’ and a ‘sporty’ one. The latter is longer and has a much larger altitude difference in steep terrain – including stairs. Even in the first days after its commissioning, the course is being enjoyed by people looking for some movement and other interested persons. Families, students, sports enthusiasts and older people could be seen on the forest path, examining the newly created posts, reading the information boards and expressing their satisfaction with the new offer. According to Zug Sports, this type of sensual movement and art experience trail is unique in Switzerland up to now.
Praise for the craftsmanship
Although the originally planned official opening ceremony of the Oberwil Forest Parcours has had to be postponed indefinitely, lots of people in Zug had heard about the new offer, and reacted accordingly. "People of all ages have contacted us to say thank you," says a delighted Daniel Schärer from Zug Sports. "The extent to which people are already enjoying he forest parcours can also be seen on social media,. And this despite the fact that we deliberately refrained from an opening campaign." Because the aim of the forest parcours is not to become a national attraction, but it is primarily a project for people from Zug.
Daniel Schärer of the Zug Corporation also praises the council workers. "They can certainly do more than just cut down trees," he jokes, thereby alluding to the outstanding craftsmanship of the corporation staff, of which the individual posts bear witness.
The new Zuger Forest Parcours (agility trail) combines sport and culture: skill is certainly required at Post 11, at the edge of the forest. Two nine-year-old students, Dominik and Liam from Zug, practice their "patience thread" (Geduldsfaden) in a concentrated manner.
Each of them is, in itself, a larger or smaller wooden work of art, in fact. This is reflected, for example, in Number 7 at the fire pit on the lower Mülibachstrasse, the "Water Play" post, where a large wooden fountain post with a shingle roof is surrounded by areas of benches and water basins, all finely arranged on an octagonal platform – and all of these made of wood from local forests, of course. Sustainability and regionality have been important factors from the outset.
Views and overviews
The Waldparcours Zug is a carefully designed adventure trail for the senses, and is thoroughly successful in all respects. The route is deliberately designed in such a way that large parts of it are even accessible for children's carriages and wheelchairs. The path leads through well-kept corporate woods, past secluded stream, and offers wonderful views of the Lake Zug landscape.
Dominik and Liam also like it. The two nine-year-old students from Zug are in the process of running the ‘sporty’ version of the course. Energetically, they crank on the rotary wheels at Post 7 until water pours out of the wooden pipes. Later, further down at Post 11, they practice their dexterity with the "thread of patience"(Geduldsfaden). Rosa Zandegiacomo and her two offspring have no less fun at the posts, for example, balancing on the rope at Post 5. They all agree: the new forest course is fun and puts you in a good mood.