1. Local Government Partners with Schools to Celebrate International Walk to School Day Naperville, IL

2. Introduction City of Naperville, IL City of Naperville, IL Population approximately 140,000 Population approximately 140,000 25 miles southwest of Chicago 25 miles southwest of Chicago Deb Kreider – Transportation and Traffic Services Deb Kreider – Transportation and Traffic Services kreiderd@naperville.il.us kreiderd@naperville.il.us Kathy Rendek – Department of Public Works Kathy Rendek – Department of Public Works rendekk@naperville.il.us rendekk@naperville.il.us

3. History 1994 1 1994 1 started in Great Britain started in Great Britain 1997 1997 1 st American walk, held in Chicago 1 st American walk, held in Chicago 2000 2000 1 st International walk day 1 st International walk day 2.5 million walkers 2.5 million walkers 2003 2003 29 countries 29 countries 2004 2004 3,000 US schools and 1,321 officially registered 3,000 US schools and 1,321 officially registered 2005 2005 37 countries 37 countries 3 million walkers 3 million walkers

4. History of Walk to School Day in Naperville 2003 2003 First organized walk First organized walk 2,500 students from 8 schools walked 2,500 students from 8 schools walked 2004 2004 4,000 students from 21 schools participated 4,000 students from 21 schools participated 2005 2005 8,000 plus students from 25 schools walked or biked to school 8,000 plus students from 25 schools walked or biked to school

5. Objectives of Participation I Reduce roadway congestion, up to 26% of morning traffic can be school-related 2 Reduce roadway congestion, up to 26% of morning traffic can be school-related 2 Reduce air pollution, auto emissions have risen from doubling miles traveled over the past two decades 3 Reduce air pollution, auto emissions have risen from doubling miles traveled over the past two decades 3 Increase awareness of traffic safety needs Increase awareness of traffic safety needs Promote alternative travel options Promote alternative travel options

6. Objectives of Participation II Promote a healthy, safe environment Promote a healthy, safe environment Promote an active lifestyle, it takes just 5 – 10 minutes for children to walk ¼ mile or bike 1 mile Promote an active lifestyle, it takes just 5 – 10 minutes for children to walk ¼ mile or bike 1 mile Promote a special Promote a special occasion occasion

7. School Walk Route Map Pedestrian Planning

8. A Sea of Bicycles

9. Making Connections Schools Schools County Boards and Offices County Boards and Offices Park District Park District Local Hospital Local Hospital Neighboring Communities Neighboring Communities American Heart Association American Heart Association

10. Staff Planning: I Form a staff team Publicly to promote the event Publicly to promote the event Press releases Press releases Light pole banners Light pole banners Park district brochures Park district brochures Radio and TV stations Radio and TV stations City website City website Utility bill inserts Utility bill inserts Flyers Flyers

11. Staff Planning: II Workshop for school representatives Workshop for school representatives History and overview of the event History and overview of the event City’s role as partners City’s role as partners Available resources Available resources Ideas for the schools Ideas for the schools How to incorporate walking into lessons How to incorporate walking into lessons How to organize an event How to organize an event Sponsors Sponsors Register school at the workshop Register school at the workshop Guest speakers Guest speakers

12. Staff Planning: III City Council Proclamation City Council Proclamation Solicit sponsors Solicit sponsors Contributions are presented to schools Contributions are presented to schools Participation plaques Participation plaques

13. Staff Planning: IV Communicate with crossing guards Communicate with crossing guards Take photographs of the event Take photographs of the event Coordinate with Mayor and City Council members for Coordinate with Mayor and City Council members for their participation their participation Kids are cool! They get to walk and bike to school.

14. Staff Planning : V Arrange for police assistance Mc Gruff (Police Department Mascot) Clancy (School Mascot)

15. School Preparation: I Schools plan their own program Schools plan their own program Principal, teacher or parent acts as coordinator Principal, teacher or parent acts as coordinator Inform parents of the event Inform parents of the event Invite dignitaries Invite dignitaries Decorate with banners, balloons, etc. Decorate with banners, balloons, etc.

16. Patterson School children, teachers and parents meet at a neighborhood park and walk together The school can get as involved as they wish

17. School Preparation: II Students, principals, teachers and parents making connections Students, principals, teachers and parents making connections Energize the students and the parents Energize the students and the parents Higher overall physical activity throughout the day, 4, 5 Higher overall physical activity throughout the day, 4, 5 Teach pedestrian and Teach pedestrian and bicycle safety bicycle safety Provide a cool drink at the school

18. School Preparation: III Incorporate the walk with a learning program Incorporate the walk with a learning program Geography (mapping exercise) Geography (mapping exercise) Math (calculate miles walked) Math (calculate miles walked) Physical Education Physical Education

19. School Preparation: IV Designate a start location Designate a start location Plan a short program at the school Plan a short program at the school Recite the pledge at the flag pole Recite the pledge at the flag pole Encourage walking at recess and after lunch Encourage walking at recess and after lunch

20. School Preparation: V Meet at a local business and walk together!  Schools report to city number of children who walked or biked to school

21. DRIVE WITH CAUTION, DRIVE WITH CARE WE HAVE MANY CHILDREN, BUT NONE TO SPARE Walk, Don’t Drive on October 5 Banners outside the school

22. Patterson Parents walk home together

23. Yeah Team! It’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of fun. The kids love it. The kids love it. It’s a casual atmosphere. It’s a casual atmosphere. Parents have a chance to walk and meet other parents. Parents have a chance to walk and meet other parents. Everybody gets involved. Everybody gets involved. Everybody gets a little exercise. Everybody gets a little exercise.

24. Register schools on the WTS Day website Register schools on the WTS Day website www.walktoschool.org www.walktoschool.org

25. Questions ?

26. October 4, 2006 Walk to School Day is the first Wednesday of October Walk to School Day is the first Wednesday of October Communities can still prepare to get involved in this year’s event Communities can still prepare to get involved in this year’s event Presented by the City of Naperville, IL Deb Kreider – kreiderd@naperville.il.us kreiderd@naperville.il.us Kathy Rendek – rendekk@naperville.il.us

27. 1 International events, www.walktoschool.org 1 International events, www.walktoschool.orgwww.walktoschool.org 2 Parisi & Associates, Transportation tools to improve children’s health and mobility: Look at what California is Doing. lgc.org/freepub/PDF/Land_Use/fact_sheets/sr2s_tr ansportation_tools.pdf. 2 Parisi & Associates, Transportation tools to improve children’s health and mobility: Look at what California is Doing. lgc.org/freepub/PDF/Land_Use/fact_sheets/sr2s_tr ansportation_tools.pdf. 3 National safety council. What you can do about emissions. asc.org/ehc/mobile/mse_fs.htm#problem 3 National safety council. What you can do about emissions. asc.org/ehc/mobile/mse_fs.htm#problem 4 Alexander et al, The broader impact of walking to school amoung adolescents, BMJonline. bmj.bmjjournals.com 4 Alexander et al, The broader impact of walking to school amoung adolescents, BMJonline. bmj.bmjjournals.com 5 Cooper et al, Commuting to school: Are children who walk more physically active? Am. J Prev Med 2003: 25 (4) 5 Cooper et al, Commuting to school: Are children who walk more physically active? Am. J Prev Med 2003: 25 (4) Resources