The Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH)

The Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH) is a proposed 60+-mile, bicycle and pedestrian trail system for the City of Huntington. The trail’s namesake, Dr. Paul Ambrose, was a promising young physician whose life ended September 11, 2001, when terrorists crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon.

Dr. Ambrose focused his medical career on family health and using preventative medicine to fight obesity, and the trail system is a way to continue his medial legacy and impact the health of Huntington.

RTI has been a driving force in creating the PATH by collaborating with the City of Huntington, Huntington Greater Parks and Recreation District, Paul Ambrose Charitable Foundation and other entities. RTI has assisted in applying for grants, coordinating volunteers efforts, organizing educational outreach efforts and creating community events that encourage local residents to use the PATH as an alternative means of transportation and a health and fitness venue.

RTI recognizes that a trail system such as the PATH is a vital part of Huntington’s continued efforts toward the redevelopment and growth of the City, because the PATH:

• Helps cut traffic congestion,
• Connects businesses, schools and communities,
• Provides no cost, healthy recreational opportunities for residents,
• Provides a sense of pride and ownership for volunteers who assist with beautification or community events, and
• Honors and continues Dr. Ambrose’s efforts to improve health through preventative medicine.

Huntington Quarterly’s Fall 2011 edition was dedicated to Paul Ambrose, and in a feature article, “He Was Ours,” Editor Jack Houvouras described how the PATH may benefit Ambrose’s hometown.

“Perhaps the one thing that would have pleased Paul the most is a project currently underway in his hometown. The Paul Ambrose Trail for Health, or PATH, is a 26-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail system for the people of Huntington. The Rahall Transportation Institute Foundation, in association with the City of Huntington and various community members, designed the trail system as an alternate means of transportation. But more importantly, the PATH is vital in Huntington’s ongoing efforts to provide healthy recreational opportunities for its citizens.”

Also in the article Jack Houvouras quotes family and friends. Bianca Angelino, Ambrose’s fiancé, said, “Paul certainly would have loved all the healthy lifestyle initiatives named in his honor, especially the PATH. He was such an active, fit and healthy person. He didn’t watch TV; he read. When he wasn’t reading, he was writing. When he wasn’t writing, he was working. And when he wasn’t working, he was exercising.”

Sharon Ambrose, his mother, said of the PATH, “I think it’s a positive living memorial to Paul. It will keep going and benefit everyone.”