Healthy Savannah Supports Windsor Forest Elementary School “I Walk Event 2014”

Healthy Savannah Supports Windsor Forest Elementary School “I Walk Event 2014”

(SAVANNAH, GA) Healthy Savannah encouraged Savannah area children to walk or bike to school on Wednesday, October 8, in observation of International Walk to School Day. This global event involved communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day.

Windsor Forest Elementary School participated in International Walk to School Day by holding the “I Walk Event 2014”. A group of students, parents, faculty and staff gathered at Woody’s Skate Park at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The group carried signs and posters as they walked down two streets to the elementary school, being led by the Windsor Forest High School Band, Flag Team and Chatelaines. Community partners who participated included: Safe Routes to School Georgia, Safe Kids and Healthy Savannah.

“Walking or bicycling to school can be fun as well as feasible,” said Paula Kreissler, Director of Healthy Living and Community Development, Healthy Savannah and YMCA of Coastal Georgia. “For families who live close enough to their schools, walking to school can be a time for students and parents to spend some quality time with each other. They can also get to know their neighbors by forming groups to travel to school together.”

One of Healthy Savannah’s objectives is to create better conditions in Savannah for walking and biking to school. The Initiative was recently awarded $150,000 in grant funding from the Healthcare Georgia Foundation (HGF) Childhood Obesity Prevention Program to assist in furthering its goals of making Savannah a healthier place to live. The organization’s top three goals include the passing of the Complete Streets ordinance and completion of the Truman Linear Park Trail. The third objective, which encourages walking and biking to school, focuses on public education and improvements to bike paths and sidewalks leading to and surrounding neighborhood schools.

“While walking or biking to school is a healthy activity, parents should also take steps to ensure it’s a safe activity,” Kreissler cautioned. “Walkers and bicyclists need to wear bright clothing, with bicyclists wearing helmets, and be aware of and observe the rules of the road. Parents should also consider forming walking school buses and bike trains with other parents and community members.”

Walking school buses are groups of children who walk designated routes to school under adult supervision, sometimes picking up kids along the way just like a bus. Bicycle trains provide a fun and safe way for students to bike together in a group.

“Studies show that students who walk or bike to school can improve their health and start their day more focused, with less restless energy,” Kreissler added. “And parents who accompany their children have the added benefit of increasing their own health benefits as well.”