Fayette's WalkWorks program takes step in right direction
The Fayette County Community Health Improvement Partnership's Healthy Lifestyles Task Force has announced a new health initiative titled WalkWorks that will bring engaging walking groups to the community.
The program, which has already been implemented in several counties across the state, is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and the HLTF.
There are three walking routes in development, each 1 to 2 miles long. In addition to being marked by WalkWorks signs, the routes will be drawn on a map that will be available online.
“In Point Marion, we'll have a trail called Pointer's Pass,” said HLTF chairwoman Sandra Morris. “Our route in Masontown will be called A Walk Through History, and at the Fayette Business Park, we'll have our Business Walk path. Each route will have themed points of interests along the walk for new participants.”
A kickoff event for the program will be held soon to introduce the walking routes. Information about the event will be posted on the WalkWorks Fayette Facebook page.
One of the goals of the WalkWorks program is to help ensure that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity per week, which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“There are so many benefits to walking, from improving one's physical and mental health to reducing traffic congestion and pollution,” said Carol L. Reichbaum, M.S.L., M.S.P.A., director of WalkWorks in Pitt Public Health's Center for Public Health Practice in a release. “This program can improve the health and quality of life of everyone in our communities; it can help to lower our rates of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.”
“The WalkWorks program has the peer support element that can be really beneficial to people who want to be more active,” adds Morris. “It's meant to be a really community-driven program.”
On the WalkWorks website, walkers can access many resources such as an activity log, a smart transportation guidebook and a downloadable toolkit for team leaders to start their own walking group.
Since January, the WalkWorks program has already been implemented in about half-a-dozen other counties across Pennsylvania. In order to promote the longevity of the WalkWorks movement in Fayette County, project organizers are advocating changes in local policies that will encourage residents to walk more when going about their daily lives.
“WalkWorks promotes active transportation by identifying infrastructure needed for pedestrian activity. This is a goal of our multi-modal transportation system in Pennsylvania,” said Mark Meaglotti, co-director of the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering Center for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure in a release.
“The goal is to influence local and regional planning efforts so that pedestrians as well as bicyclists are considered and improvements are made to the existing transportation network,” he added. “We want to make it easy for people to enjoy walking in their communities. The health benefits will follow.”
In addition to the new WalkWorks program, the HLTF has hosted its Wednesday Walks series for the last eight years. This program consists of weekly guided walks focusing on moderate exercise and exploring local communities.
“Wednesday Walks has been run by a great group of volunteers for many years, and as long as we have interested participants we'll keep up that program as well,” said Morris.
For more information about walking routes or how to become a part of the program, visit the WalkWorks Fayette Facebook page or www.pawalkworks.com.
Kaidia Pickels is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.
