Brooklyn Center man draws attention to local parks
Dana Boeshans visited nearly every park in Brooklyn Center on an almost 18-mile bike ride Thursday. His social media post highlighted local parks and the trail system.
You could say it was a bike ride heard all around Brooklyn Center.
“I got up and said okay, the humidity is breaking,” says Boeshans. “It’s a good day for a ride.”
Nearly any day is a good day for a ride for Boeshans, who recently lost quite a bit of weight.
“I lost 60 pounds because I got sick and tired of being sick and tired,” says Boeshans.
His weight loss strategy involved eating less and moving more. Walking his dog led to running 5k races which led to injury. Boeshans has started biking and exploring area trails as a way to stay active.
“It’s true,” says Boeshans. “You can literally go anywhere you want.”
Biking around Brooklyn Center
Boeshans, who grew up in Brooklyn Center, decided to see if he could go for a bike ride and hit as many city parks as possible. He posted his ride on the Friends of Brooklyn Center Facebook page. Boeshans used a special app on his smart phone that outlined his trip and incorporated photos from the parks he visited. The ride took about an hour and thirty five minutes and clocked 17.5 miles.
“In each park I took a picture and posted it,” says Boeshans. “Everyone was like, hey this was great.”
Boeshans says his attempt struck a chord with people.
“There’s a little bit inside of them that says, I’ve been to that park and it brings back fond memories,” says Boeshans.
Boeshans says he missed three parks on his first attempt, but he might try it again. There’s online chatter that a group may get together to try to bike together between local parks like Boeshans did.
“We have all these parks and how many times a day do you drive by them and you don’t even know they are there,” says Boeshans.
