Sign goes up for Burlison/Christopher walking trail at Bullard Park

Photo courtesy of Marsha Rivers

ALBION – A sign is up at Bullard Park for the Wayne Burlison and Judy Christopher Memorial Walking Trail. The 3,800-foot-long crusher-run path goes around the perimeter of Bullard Park.

The Albion Running Club contributed $5,000 towards the trail, which was installed last fall by the Village of Albion Department of Public Works, with assistance from a private contractor with a milling machine.

The 5-foot-wide walking trail is the last piece of an $800,000 improvement project at Bullard, a village park on Route 31. Other upgrades include a new splash park, amphitheater, utility building with bathrooms and a pavilion.

The trail is in memory of Wayne Burlison, an Albion elementary music teacher who died at age 36 from colon cancer on March 26, 2014. Burlison was an active member of the Albion Running Club and he promoted fitness in the community and led a Couch to 5K program called Run for God.

Christopher ran Phoenix Fitness in downtown Albion and organized the first 19 Strawberry Festival races. She started the 5k and 8k races at the festival initially to give members of the gym needed a fitness .

Christopher passed away from cancer at age 70 on Aug. 3, 2013.

Her family also ran the Four C’s Marina for many years. Judy also was the first woman elected to serve on the Albion Town Board. She was a long-time member of the Albion Rotary Club and served on the Swan Library Board of Trustees.