Parcourse FitCircuit

At the east end of the Parade Grounds restored grassland is the Parcourse FitCircuit, an outdoor recreation area that offers fitness opportunities, walking paths, and easy access to South Beach.

To reach the Parcourse, drive past the Transfer Station and continue along the gravel road. After passing the small Entry sign on the right, you will see a defined parking area and signage marking the start of the circuit. A short path leads into the Parcourse, which sits just beyond the edge of the grassland.

The Parcourse FitCircuit includes ten exercise stations such as an Achilles stretch, hip rotation, chin up, push up, and log jump. Walking past the far end of the circuit, the path opens to expansive views of the restored grassland and provides direct access to South Beach. The circuit also connects to wide walking paths that wind through the Parade Grounds.

Path to Parade Grounds
View west to restored grassland.

These recreational paths actually predate the Conservancy’s grassland restoration work. In 2001, the late Robert W. Feagles, whose family first came to Fishers Island in 1956, envisioned a fitness trail in the Parade Grounds and began developing a path system with exercise stations. He worked with a landscape architect from Maine and enlisted the help of the late Dick Grebe, who generously cleared and moved earth at no cost.

With support from Island organizations and individuals, the project continued to move forward. In 2003, the Southold Town Board approved funding for the trail, covering the $50,000 cost with funds that were no longer needed for a strawberry festival.

 

Path to Par Course
Small path leads to par course through a “fortress” wall of tangled invasive vegetation.

Over time, invasive vegetation grew along the trail, surrounding the exercise stations and limiting access and visibility. In early 2019, the Fishers Island Conservancy cleared dense invasive growth in this area as part of its broader grassland restoration efforts. This work reopened sightlines, restored access to the Parcourse FitCircuit, and reconnected the trail to the surrounding grassland landscape, making it once again easy for the community to use and enjoy.

Pictures do not do justice to the amazing transformation along South Beach Road approaching the Parcourse FitCircuit. Individual stops along the circuit are now visible, as is access to South Beach in the distance.

In 2019, Jimmy Ski, on behalf of FIConservancy, cleared the area of tangled invasive vegetation and created nearby berms that now contain the remains of Southold Town work and detritus from the past 40-50 years, including road sweepings, rock piles, metal from cars, asphalt and washing machines. Jimmy removed 97 tons of concrete that was crushed and used for Island roads.

The new berms, covered by dirt, are already being reclaimed by grasslands on the Parade Grounds. FIConservancy has planted a warm season grass mix specifically created for Fishers Island by nationally-recognized University of Delaware entomologist Doug Tallamy, Joe Henderson and Tom Sargent.

The grasses in this recently-cleared parcel will likely take three years to become established.