Local Government Partners with Schools to Celebrate International Walk to School Day

1. Naperville, IL Local Government Partners with Schools to Celebrate International Walk to School Day

2. Introduction • City of Naperville, IL • Population approximately 140,000 • 25 miles southwest of Chicago • Deb Kreider – Transportation and Traffic Services • kreiderd@naperville.il.us • Kathy Rendek – Department of Public Works • rendekk@naperville.il.us

3. History • 1994 1 • started in Great Britain • 1997 • 1st American walk, held in Chicago • 2000 • 1st International walk day • 2.5 million walkers • 2003 • 29 countries • 2004 • 3,000 US schools and 1,321 officially registered • 2005 • 37 countries • 3 million walkers

4. 2003 First organized walk 2,500 students from 8 schools walked 2004 4,000 students from 21 schools participated 2005 8,000 plus students from 25 schools walked or biked to school History of Walk to School Day in Naperville

5. Objectives of Participation I • Reduce roadway congestion, up to 26% of morning traffic can be school-related 2 • Reduce air pollution, auto emissions have risen from doubling miles traveled over the past two decades 3 • Increase awareness of traffic safety needs • Promote alternative travel options

6. Objectives of Participation II • Promote a healthy, safe environment • Promote an active lifestyle, it takes just 5 – 10 minutes for children to walk ¼ mile or bike 1 mile • Promote a special occasion

7. School Walk Route Map Pedestrian Planning

8. A Sea of Bicycles

9. Making Connections • Schools • County Boards and Offices • Park District • Local Hospital • Neighboring Communities • American Heart Association

10. Staff Planning: IForm a staff team • Publicly to promote the event • Press releases • Light pole banners • Park district brochures • Radio and TV stations • City website • Utility bill inserts • Flyers

11. Staff Planning: II • Workshop for school representatives • History and overview of the event • City’s role as partners • Available resources • Ideas for the schools • How to incorporate walking into lessons • How to organize an event • Sponsors • Register school at the workshop • Guest speakers

12. Staff Planning: III • City Council Proclamation • Solicit sponsors • Contributions are presented to schools • Participation plaques

13. Staff Planning: IV • Communicate with crossing guards • Take photographs of the event • Coordinate with Mayor and City Council members for their participation Kids are cool! They get to walk and bike to school.

14. Staff Planning : V Arrange for police assistance Clancy (School Mascot) Mc Gruff (Police Department Mascot)

15. School Preparation: I • Schools plan their own program • Principal, teacher or parent acts as coordinator • Inform parents of the event • Invite dignitaries • Decorate with banners, balloons, etc.

16. Patterson The school can get as involved as they wish School children, teachers and parents meet at a neighborhood park and walk together

17. School Preparation: II • Students, principals, teachers and parents making connections • Energize the students and the parents • Higher overall physical activity throughout the day, 4, 5 • Teach pedestrian and bicycle safety Provide a cool drink at the school

18. School Preparation: III • Incorporate the walk with a learning program • Geography (mapping exercise) • Math (calculate miles walked) • Physical Education

19. School Preparation: IV • Designate a start location • Plan a short program at the school • Recite the pledge at the flag pole • Encourage walking at recess and after lunch

20. School Preparation: V • Schools report to city number of children who walked or biked to school Meet at a local business and walk together!

21. DRIVE WITH CAUTION, DRIVE WITH CAREWE HAVE MANY CHILDREN, BUT NONE TO SPARE Banners outside the school Walk, Don’t Drive on October 5

22. Patterson Parents walk home together

23. Yeah Team! • It’s a lot of fun. • The kids love it. • It’s a casual atmosphere. • Parents have a chance to walk and meet other parents. • Everybody gets involved. • Everybody gets a little exercise.

24. Register schools on the WTS Day website • www.walktoschool.org

25. Questions ?

26. October 4, 2006 • Walk to School Day is the first Wednesday of October • Communities can still prepare to get involved in this year’s event • Presented by the City of Naperville, IL • Deb Kreider – kreiderd@naperville.il.us • Kathy Rendek – rendekk@naperville.il.us

27. Resources • 1 International events, www.walktoschool.org • 2 Parisi & Associates, Transportation tools to improve children’s health and mobility: Look at what California is Doing. lgc.org/freepub/PDF/Land_Use/fact_sheets/sr2s_transportation_tools.pdf. • 3 National safety council. What you can do about emissions. asc.org/ehc/mobile/mse_fs.htm#problem • 4 Alexander et al, The broader impact of walking to school amoung adolescents, BMJonline. bmj.bmjjournals.com • 5 Cooper et al, Commuting to school: Are children who walk more physically active? Am. J Prev Med 2003: 25 (4)