Wal-Mart donates to People Pathways

With gas prices soaring and people digging deeper into their pockets to pay for food and services, being pedestrian-friendly seems a common sense idea to People Pathways Board President Joy Marley.

Wal-Mart Distribution Center agrees. They recently presented the local People Pathways Project with a $1,000 donation to help provide upkeep for the eastern half of the Greencastle/Fillmore Trail and for other uses.

Since 1995, People Pathways Partnerships has developed and maintained relationships with the city of Greencastle, local businesses and organizations and individuals.

Area 30 students Roxie Peyton and Anna Beasley hold up their "Walk and Talk" sign as they hike along the Greencastle/Fillmore leg of Peoples Pathways during the schools Fitness Finale Walk.

One of the goals of the group is to promote programs that encourage use of the pathway system by walkers, joggers and cyclists including children going to and from school.

A great example is the partnership between People Pathways and Area 30 Career Center. The two groups worked together this week to promote a 2-mile "Fitness Finale" walk for students on the Greencastle/Fillmore Trail as part of Area 30's end of school year Spring Fling Activity Day.

Dozens of students participated in the program by walking part of the 3.1-mile trail, which starts near the school and ends at Bert and Betty's Restaurant in Fillmore.

Students walking the trail received incentive prizes donated by Almost Home, Hibbett Sports, Kroger, Mason Jewelers, Papa John's Pizza, Radio Shack and Wal-Mart Superstores. Area 30 representatives Ann Weatherford and Marsha Murtagh passed out coupons and tickets to students as they completed the walk Wednesday afternoon.

People Pathways is currently a network of trails 6.1 miles long. It creates connectivity and accessibility allowing community members the option of using non-motorized transportation to parks, schools, businesses, and industries.

"The pathways offer safer venues to exercise and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. People Pathways in partnership with other local public and private entities promoted the countywide Walking for Wellness Program. Today is a perfect example of one of those partnerships," said Marley.

In addition, the People Pathways project forms public and private partnerships to generate funds and build "bridges" rather than walls to create a sense of belonging and community.

"The Services provided by People Pathways remains even more relevant today as society looks for solutions to escalating health care concerns and rising gasoline costs," Marley said.

"People Pathways is a great component of taking action to address these concerns in our local community."