Photo By: Jennifer Madrigal
Local kids and a parent show how it’s cool to walk to school.
By: Jennifer Madrigal Eastvale – The City of Eastvale has proposed a program that will encourage parents and children to walk rather than drive to school. With the increasing traffic and congestion issues plaguing Eastvale, City Manager Carol Jacobs was inspired to create a program that would promote exercise as well as help ease some of the congestion around local schools. The Corona Norco School District will hear more about this program when it is presented to the school board on July 18 for approval. The City hopes to work closely with the School District as well as School principals to further develop this program and to address concerns from parents. In a presentation at the June 12th City Council meeting, the City explained some of the benefits associated with walking to school. Reduced car emission, reduced traffic around school sites, improved safety, and exercise for both children and parents are just a few. The City has also applied for sidewalk funds to assist with pedestrian connectivity to ensure that parents and children have a safe place to walk. According to their Power Point presentation, the City will also prepare maps, meet with principals and PTA organizations and work with the Sheriff’s Department to develop safety tips for pedestrians and bicyclists. Children that live further than “walking distance” to schools can have their parents’ park at parks and in residential areas closer to the schools, and walk from there. The main idea is to clear the areas around the schools and to get the kids walking and exercising. As always, children are encouraged to never walk alone and to instead walk with parents or small groups to ensure their safety. The City also wants to include the 100 Mile Club into the program and hopes they will be able to offer the incentive of earning 2 miles per week to students who participate. The 100 Mile Club, is a program that is in place at all the elementary and intermediate schools throughout Eastvale, offering incentives such as T-Shirts and awards for achieving certain benchmarks in walking or running during the school year. Most children in Eastvale participate in this program while walking or running laps during school hours and the added incentive of earning extra miles may just make it an even better program for students.
