People who walk and bike experience numerous benefits, including better physical health and the joy that comes with regular exercise. Decreases in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke can all be attributed to regular physical activity. Health benefits are often accompanied by stronger connections to the family, friends, and neighbors with whom walkers and bikers share those activities.
SEMCOG offers assistance to its member communities in the Safe Routes to School planning process. Schools and communities throughout the region have successfully used this process and implemented projects to improve access and safety for students who walk and bike.
Implementation of Safe Routes to School varies by the needs in a particular situation. Outcomes may include mitigation of hazards on the walking route such as litter, overgrown foliage, debris, and derelict buildings; organized walking groups (also known as “walking school buses”); coordination with local law enforcement; and infrastructure improvements such as new sidewalks, crosswalks, or bicycle parking.
If it works for schools, why not parks?
Like schools, parks are community assets that positively impact health and quality of life. Unfortunately, some parks have safety and access issues that hinder residents from fully realizing their benefits. To help address these concerns, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) launched the pilot Safe Routes to Parks campaign. In partnership with the Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks), Ypsilanti Township’s West Willow Park was one of only 10 parks nationwide selected for this pilot.
Snip from Safe Routes to Parks Action Framework, NRPA
West Willow Park is critical for the quality of life of nearby residents, as it is the only park in its neighborhood. It features numerous amenities, including a walking path, baseball and basketball facilities, as well as picnic and play areas. Safety concerns have resulted in underuse of the park, which will be the primary focus of the Safe Routes process. The main goal is to “get more families using the park,” said Angela Verges, Recreation Director for Ypsilanti Township.
Grassroots community efforts have already led to improvements, as the New West Willow Neighborhood Association won a grant from the Ann Arbor Realtors to install a park bench with a shade awning for parents to use while watching their children on the play equipment. Benefits of the technical assistance provided through the Safe Routes to Parks award will include the opportunity to “conduct a thorough needs assessment and empower the neighborhood group to track results over time,” said Kari Woloszyk, Health and Wellness Coordinator for mParks.
New park bench at West Willow Park, Ypsilanti Township
As the township continues through the Safe Routes process, it will conduct a walking audit around the park; develop a park improvement plan to meet the needs that are found; further develop existing partnerships such as those with mParks, the New West Willow Neighborhood Association, and the Washtenaw County Health Department; and develop new partnerships to improve safety and increase park use.
Lifestyle choices seem to be coming full circle, with walking and biking being seen once again as viable and valuable means of transportation and not just recreational activities. Efforts such as Safe Routes to Schools and Safe Routes to Park are responding to this increased interest with strategies to instill healthy and safe habits that help to build active, vibrant communities. To increase safety education and awareness, SEMCOG is engaging people of all ages who walk, bike, and drive in safety education efforts throughout Southeast Michigan as part of its Walk.Bike.Drive Safe campaign.
Also if you’re interested in learning more about the over 2,600 parks in the region, check out SEMCOG’s Park Finder!
Leave a Reply