2007 May 10 » jackiedoherty.org

Walking Wednesdays

Posted by Margaret on May 10, 2007

Yesterday was the first “Walking Wednesday” at the Lincoln School. The weather could not have been better and more than 300 of the school’s 478 students were dropped off or rode their usual bus and were let off at the DMV parking lot around 8:00 am to participate. Many parents, some pushing baby carriages, joined their children for the walk. Staff and volunteers in bright orange vests supervised the students and colorful balloons added to the festive atmosphere.

Several months in the planning, the idea originated with the Greater Lowell Health Alliance as a way to promote healthier lifestyles and to look at the obstacles facing students when opting to walk to school. The Lowell School department, Lowell police and, of course, the staff and families of the Lincoln School worked with a representative of the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School initiative to plan and implement ”Walking Wednesdays” at the Lincoln School.

The Lincoln School principal, Sandra Dunning and her staff, were wholeheartedly behind the idea from the moment Lowell’s Transportation Director (and GLHA committee member) John Descouteaux (pictured below, center) brought the Safe Routes to School program to their attention. The Lincoln already runs a very successful morning walking program for those students who are dropped off before the school opens in the morning, which combined with their challenging location, right on busy Chelmsford Street, makes them a perfect fit for this pilot program. Lowell’s School Safety Officer, Paul Corcoran, was on hand with two patrol cars to keep the designated routes clear, while Mayor Bill Martin (below, left) and School committee Chair, John Leahy (below, wearing a hat), joined the students in the 1/2 mile walk. (Also pictured, on right, Fred McOskar from the school department). Other school department officials participating were Ann Murphy and Jean Franco).