Be Local by checking out area trails on National Walking Day
National Walking Day was celebrated on April 4, a time to be more physically active through walking.
Be Local means checking out area walking trails and participating in the event that was hosted on National Walking Day by the Fayette County Healthy Lifestyles Task Force, which offers the summertime Wednesday Walks program.
Sandra Morris, who chairs the task force, said walkers met at 6 p.m. April 4 at Hutchinson Park in Hopwood for an unguided walk to the newly paved, level trail to the South Union recreation Center and back. The distance was one mile or less. Look for the sign for Wednesday Walks.
“Walking is a great way to get some exercise, lift your spirits and get a much-needed dose of Vitamin D this time of year here in Southwestern Pennsylvania,” Morris said.
She added, “Fewer than 50 percent of Americans meet the minimum guidelines for moderate physical activity. Walking is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get exercise. In Fayette County, physical inactivity is at 32 percent, compared to 24 percent for the state.”
Morris noted the task force, which is part of the Fayette County Community Health Improvement Partnership, is celebrating its 10th season of the Wednesday Walks. The program began in 2008 under the Steps to a Healthier Fayette County program.
“Even though grant funding for Steps ended in 2009, the Wednesday Walks program was so successful that the task force decided to work as volunteers to continue the summer walking series,” said Morris. “This year’s schedule includes some of our walker’s old favorite walks, along with some new exciting ones as well.”
The Wednesday Walks program starts in mid-June and includes communities throughout Fayette County. The walks feature guides who talk on subjects associated with the walk, ranging from history to architecture to nature.
“We walk in so many places in Fayette County that you wouldn’t think to walk. We call them treasures in our backyard,” said Morris. “We’ve talked about history of churches in Connellsville, learned about the architecture of patch towns and the museum in Smock. Seven years ago, we walked on the grounds at Fallingwater and we’ve been to Ohiopyle.”
Morris said the 2018 schedule is being finalized and will be shared with the Herald-Standard and posted on the Fayette County Wednesday Walks Facebook page when complete.
In addition, Morris has worked as the Fayette County WalkWorks coordinator for the past four years to identify, develop, map out, place signage and build walking groups for community walking routes through Fayette County.
“I’m happy to say we now have five community walking routes and are working on adding an additional route this year,” said Morris.
Each route has points of interest along the way and are generally about one to 1.5 miles each. They include Georges Township, Connellsville, Masontown, Point Marion and Uniontown. Information on each route can be found on the Steps website at www.stepstoahealthierfayettecounty.org.
Through the WalkWorks program, Morris became approved as a Walking College Fellow and is working on a Walking Action Plan that includes a fun contest for elementary school children.
“The contest will encourage families to walk in downtown locations while they work toward an entry into a drawing for a grand prize,” explained Morris, who noted that information will be available through elementary schools sometime in April.
National Walking Day is a national movement that was started by the American Heart Association.
Tricia Desvarro, Fayette County Division director, said, “It fits in with our Healthy for Good platform. Walking and moving is something we’re focused on to get everybody involved.”
More information on Healthy for Good is available on the American Heart Association’s website at www.heart.org.
Those interested in joining the Be Local Network can contact Ted Flowers at 724-425-7231 or by email at tflowers@heraldstandard.com. Discount cards are available at the Herald-Standard, 8 E. Church St., Uniontown, and at the Greene County Messenger, 82 W. High St., Waynesburg.