TOWN OF DAVIDSON PRESS RELEASE
Davidson Elementary School, the Community School of Davidson, Lake Norman Christian School, and Davidson Green School will join schools from around the world to celebrate “International Walk to School Day” on October 4.
This event is organized by the Town of Davidson and the North Carolina Active Routes to School Project along with Davidson Elementary School, the Community School of Davidson, the Lake Norman Christian School and the Davidson Green School. The Town of Davidson seeks to establish consistent walking and cycling programs as a commitment to the town’s emphasis on being a walking and bicycle friendly community.
Students will be walking and riding to school along with parents, teachers, Davidson College students, and community leaders. Some local schools will also engage in campus-wide pedestrian-themed activities.
Walk to School Day seeks to raise awareness for pedestrian safety, environmental conservation, and the importance of physical activity. The events build connections between families, schools, and the broader community.
The Town of Davidson encourages all students to participate. Students who walk or bike regularly are encouraged to take their normal routes as a part of the event. Details for the event are listed below by participating school:
· Davidson Elementary School students can be dropped off, by bus or car, at the Davidson town green from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. Adults will accompany students to the school via South Street. Students may also be dropped off at the South Prong Rocky River Greenway on Avinger Lane near The Pines. Volunteers will be present from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. to assist students who bike or walk.
· Community School of Davidson families are invited to meet at Roosevelt Wilson Park from 7:30 to 7:50 a.m. to walk to school together. Community volunteers will pass out stickers. Physical education instructors will also facilitate pedestrian-themed activities throughout the week.
· Davidson Green School students, staff, and parents will walk during an off campus activity.
· Lake Norman Christian School students can be dropped off in front of the Davidson Public Library at the Davidson town green. The library parking lot will serve as a carpool lane. Volunteers will greet children at the library starting at 7:40 a.m. and depart at 7:55 a.m.
“The Davidson Police Department continues to educate citizens on pedestrian safety and we hope to see lots of children and families walking and biking to school on Walk to School Day and every day,” said Davidson Police Chief Penny Dunn.
Additional events during the month of October can be found at www.townofdavidson.org/dpr, they include:
· Fisher Farm Family Bike Fest on October 8th (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) 21215 Shearer Rd, Davidson, NC
· Afterschool Kids’ Bike Clinic on October 18 (1:00 – 2:30 p.m.) – register at link above
· Davidson Tour de Trees on October 21 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) – register at link above
For more information on Davidson’s “International Walk to School Day,” please contact Charlene Minor at (704) 892-3349 or cminor@townofdavidson.org.
For additional information, please visit these websites:
National Center for Safe Routes to School www.saferoutesinfo.org
About “International Walk to School Day”
Walk to School Day was established in the United States in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Canada and Great Britain already had walk to school programs in place. In 2000, these three countries joined together to create “International Walk to School Day.”
In May 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School was established to assist communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school.
The National Center for Safe Routes to School serves as the national coordinating agency for “Walk to School” activities in the United States.
“Walk to School Day” began as a simple idea – children and parents, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity, and the need for safe places to walk and bike. Schools focus on health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.
Organizations supporting “International Walk to School Day” in the United States include America Walks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the National Center for Bicycling and Walking, the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safe Kids Worldwide, and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. In North Carolina, the Active Routes to School project is a Safe Routes to School partnership between the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
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