Generations of area athletes know the name George Puehl.

A cross-country coach at Sylvania Southview High School in the 1980s and Toledo Start High School in the 1990s, he brought countless runners to Wildwood to train on the trails, always looking for spots with the steepest inclines to test their abilities.

“We’ve been going to Wildwood since before it was Wildwood,” said Melissa Weisner, recalling cross-country runs on the property with her father, who was also her coach.

As a tribute to Coach Puehl, who died a year ago, his family and friends donated the funds to renovate an overlook on the Red Trail, which is dedicated in his name. Eagle Scout candidate Cole Musch and his troop started removing the old railings and decking during an April snowstorm, and later worked with the Wildwood staff to rebuild it an second structure.

While one of the overlooks was dedicated to Coach Puehl, the family’s contributions and the help of the scouts made it possible to renovate both platforms.

Mrs. Wesner said the family chose the larger of the two overlooks because it was near a section of the trail with a hill, where she would run a “hard four miles” with her dad.

Thanks to Mr.  Puehl, generations of runners experienced the Wildwood. Now, thanks to the coach’s family, future generations of runners will know his name.