[Vision2020] PR - Polar Walk 2015

[Stephanie Kalasz]

City of Moscow
206 E Third Street
Moscow, ID 83843
Contact: Gary J. Riedner, City Supervisor
p     |  208.883.7006
e     |   griedner at ci.moscow.id.us<mailto:griedner at ci.moscow.id.us>
w    |  www.ci.moscow.id.us<http://www.ci.moscow.id.us>

PRESS RELEASE
Polar Walk 2015

January 23, 2015 (Moscow, Idaho) - Nine schools in Moscow plan to enjoy walking, biking or gliding to school for the Polar Walk on February 4, 2015. Participating schools include: A. B. McDonald Elementary, J. Russell Elementary, Lena Whitmore Elementary, Moscow Charter School, Moscow Middle School, Moscow High School, Palouse Prairie School of Expeditionary Learning, St. Mary's Catholic School, and West Park Elementary.

All students and parents who walk, bike, or glide to school will receive hot chocolate from Safe Routes to School (SR2S) when they arrive. Students will also get the chance to find two stuffed polar bears on each school property the morning of the Polar Walk.

New aspects of the Polar Walk event this year: students who walk, bike or bus will earn points to adopt a polar bear and cub in the Arctic for their school, students will communicate with classrooms in Norway to discuss why they walk to school in the winter, and Moscow Charter School will be using the Polar Walk event to kick off their new alternative transportation program called "Walk & Roll" where students will continue to walk, ride and carpool until the end of the school year.

Walking with adults and in groups is safer than walking alone. Students and parents are invited to join the Walking School Buses coordinated by PTA/PTO leaders and led by parent volunteers.  Park-and-Walk locations are located around schools for students who live too far from school to walk the entire way.  To see a map of recommended walking routes to your school, and Park-and-Walk locations, visit www.SR2Smoscow.com/maps<http://www.SR2Smoscow.com/maps> and click on your school for printable maps.

For this community event, approximately 1,500 students from Moscow Schools will be participating along with over 250 parents, teachers and community leaders. Over 40 University of Idaho students will also be volunteering at our Moscow Schools to serve hot chocolate to all participating students and parents. City Council members, community leaders and community service organizations will be extra eyes of safety for students as they walk to ensure they have a safe and fun morning.

Safe Routes to School walk to school events like the Polar Walk raise awareness for the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment. These events also build connections between families, schools and the broader community.

Safe Routes to School is a partner with the Movement Sciences department at the University of Idaho.

For additional information, please contact Brooke Lowry at 208.596.0879 or a specific school's PTA/PTO leader for school-specific information about Safe Routes to School resources.

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Story Contact: Brooke Lowry, Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Phone: 208.596.0879
Email: blowry at gmail.com<mailto:blowry at gmail.com>

For additional information, please visit these websites:

Moscow Safe Routes to School                                  www.SR2Smoscow.com<http://www.SR2Smoscow.com>
Polar Bears International                                              www.polarbearsinternational.org<http://www.polarbearsinternational.org>
Walk to School Day in the USA                                   www.walkbiketoschool.org<http://www.walkbiketoschool.org>
National Center for Safe Routes to School            www.saferoutesinfo.org<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org>


The City of Moscow delivers quality municipal services while ensuring responsible use of resources.
We anticipate and meet the needs of our diverse population in order to build public trust and enhance a sense of community.



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