‘Walk To School Day’ Planned For Oct. 8

The following press release was sent to wspa.com on Monday:
The City of Fountain Inn and Fountain Inn Elementary School Announces Safe Routes to School Program
Fountain Inn Elementary School will be joining schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 8, 2008.  Parents and students will be meeting 7:15 p.m. at Kerry Ann Younts Culp Library, 311 North Main Street, Fountain Inn, to walk to school. 

This event is truly a community partnership.  Fountain Inn Elementary and the City of Fountain Inn will be organizing the event.  Additional partners include the Fountain inn Police Dept., Greenville County School District, Greenville County Planning Department, Strong Communities, SCDOT, the national Center for Safe Routes to School, along with many other community organizations. 

Fountain Inn Elementary was among ten schools selected across the state to receive a South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Commission grant for schools to develop comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian programs as part of the “Safe Routes to School Program.  Each selected school will be reimbursed up to $200,000 for work performed under the program.  The funds are 100% federal and require no state or local match.

This is a fun event for students, parent and teachers.  Participants from grades K-8 will receive promotional items and prizes.  The event works to create safer routes for walking and bicycling to and from school.  It emphasizes the importance of issues such as physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, promoting anti-idling, concern for the environment, saving fuel costs, and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.  Parents should look for more information as the date draws closer.

You can help or become involved in a number of ways.  You can:
    Let us know if you are interested in volunteering with the 2008/2009 Safe Routes Committee.
    Participate in the International Walk to School Day or any Walk to School days.
You can go to the following websites for more information:
International Walk to School in the USA       http://www.walktoschool.org
National Center for Safe Routes to School     http://www.saferoutesinfo.org
International Walk to School   http://www.iwalktoschool.org