With its picturesque waterfalls and vibrant wildlife, Staten Island's Clove Lakes Park is a haven, especially for the borough's active running community:

"It has like shade and stuff with the trees; and it's nice and stuff with the lake and stuff," said Isaiah Cook, a runner.

The park attracts runners old and new, from high school teams to everyday joggers.

About six years ago, some of them began talking about making their runs even more bucolic. By creating an actual cross country trail so they would not have to run on asphalt.

"It's much easier on the joints and can really prolong the years that you can run," said David Panza, of the Staten Island Athletic Club.

Dozens of volunteers built the trail following old horse paths. But after four years, erosion washed much of it away.

But now, it's being completely rebuilt, thanks to a $1.5 million donation by the Borough President:

"We're putting in the first layer of geo-thermal fabric; on top of that we're going to have four inches of quarry stone. Which are big rocks, about the size of your fist. Cedar wood, and what looks like pebbles. And it makes for a softer and more forgiving surface," said Bill Allert of the Staten Island Track and Running Club.

The work began last year and some portions are already completed.

This runner tested out the trail early one summer morning. It is easier on the knees, but it's not easy!

The 5k-trail has markers every thousand meters and every mile.

And it's being built to national standards for cross country racing so the course can eventually be used for high school meets.

"Cross country and track in general, people are always looking for a different place to run. Just get kids a different feel; I think it'd be great," said John Padula, a Wagner High School track coach.

Work on the course is about three quarters done and the Parks Department says it expects to finish up early next spring, but many here believe it won't take that long, and that they'll be running happy trails later this year.