By Lance Koppa, the Public Information Officer for the Highland Park Department of Public Safety
As part of the ongoing initiative to promote awareness for walkable communities, officers with the Highland Park Department of Public Safety (HPDPS) and staff from the Park Cities YMCA are joining Armstrong Elementary, located at 3600 Cornell Avenue, Highland Park, for International Walk to School Day on Wednesday morning October 3rd, 2012. Three locations have been selected as meeting points for students and parents:
- Potomac Avenue at High School Avenue
- St. Johns Drive at Abbott Avenue
- Byron Avenue at Dartmouth Avenue
A meeting time of 7:35 a.m. has been selected and each group will begin their Walk to School at 7:45 a.m. sharp.
More than 40 countries worldwide participate in the International Walk to School Day each October. Walk to School events raise awareness of the need to create and maintain safer routes for walking and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment. The events build connections between families, schools, school crossing guards and the broader community. Participation in the Walk to School Day event has grown each year with over 4,000 schools participating last year alone. Highland Park DPS and the Park Cities YMCA are proud to support Armstrong Elementary and their participation with the International Walk to School Day. More information can be found at www.walkbiketoschool.org.