Walking Routes Promote Health

By Amber Lawrence

 

 

 

 

Do you want to have a healthier lifestyle? You can do that just by taking a walk in your town.

The program Walk Works is from the University of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It establishes walking trails on existing sidewalks in a town, according to Kay Jones, Executive Director of Schuylkill County’s VISION, the local organization that administers the program. VISION is the Southeast Pennsylvania Health District regional representative to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It has started Healthy Communities coalitions in Schuylkill Haven and Shenandoah. Mahanoy City is the third community.

Where do they get the money to help establish these projects? Funding for the Healthy Communities programs come from multiple sources, including banks, the county block grant, and service clubs, according to Jones. In the past they have had hospital funding and other sources, and are always looking for grants to support these programs.

The Schuylkill Haven program includes historic walks, cooking lessons, health fairs, special programs, and cooperative programs with Penn State, according to Jones. They are working on establishing a Farmer’s Market this year. Shenandoah has many of the same programs, and is working on revitalizing a town park.

Jones says VISION has also convened a Healthy Communities coalition of organizations and individuals to design three Walk Works routes in Mahanoy City.

The Walking Routes Are:

(Click below to download PDFs of each route)

• Golden Bear Jaunt will be used by the ACHIEVE afterschool program as a fun way to encourage kids and their families to get out and walk more.
• The Mahanoy Mile will be used by senior citizens in Diakon Community Services’ Walk with Ease program.
• The Old Mahanoy Stroll takes in a number of historical places in the town.

The plan is for people to use the routes on a regular basis through walking clubs. “We are looking for walking team leaders as well as people to help spread the word about the good things that are happening,” says Kathy Leahy, Community Wellness Coordinator at Diakon Community Services, in Pottsville. Leahy plans the health and wellness programming for the Mahanoy City Senior Community Center.

“Since I work with older adults, I am always looking for new ways to offer health programming and get our seniors out and moving,” adds Leahy. “Walk Works’ mapped out routes give me measured trails to introduce a walking program called Walk with Ease, specifically designed for older adults with arthritis.”

Anyone can get involved with the Healthy Communities coalition. Everyone is invited to attend Mahanoy City’s meetings at 6:00 pm on the first and third Mondays at the Senior Community Center, 138 West Centre Street, to help make Mahanoy City a healthier place for everybody.

“Walking is one of the simplest and best ways to improve and maintain good physical and mental health,” says Jones.

So why not get involved to have a healthier life and community?