On Friday, May 18, the community is invited to Walk Galion! A new walking route throughout several neighborhoods in town will be unveiled.
Meet at Galion Public Library at 5:00 p.m., walk part of the route, and get back to the Uptowne Square in time for Third Friday activities.
Walk [Your City] is a national campaign that encourages people to get involved in making their communities more vibrant and walkable. The initiative to bring the campaign to Galion was led by the Healthy Weight, Healthy Heart Committee, as part of the Community Health Improvement Plan.
“Most people who don't walk to any destinations say that it's too far,” said Lisa Workman, a member of the committee. “This initiative shows that in only a few minutes at a time, you can incorporate exercise into your daily routine while simultaneously soaking in your community's little gems.”
The Crawford County Community Health Assessment conducted in 2015 showed multiple needs for improving wellness within our community:
- 35% of adults in Crawford County are obese, compared to 30% nationally.
- Heart disease accounted for 19% of deaths in the county in 2013.
- 16% of adults are diagnosed with diabetes, and 32% have arthritis.
The Healthy Weight, Healthy Heart Committee is one of several subgroups formed to address improving the community’s overall wellness. Workman met with city officials to discuss the idea of a walking route, and the effort was made possible through funding from The Community Foundation for Crawford County, the City of Galion, and the Galion Historical Society.
Walking is an exercise that can benefit all ages and abilities — a perfect activity for families to do together. The 2.3-mile path for Walk Galion features local sites ranging from parks to historic buildings. You may begin your walk at any point along the route. In the future, planners hope to add more sites.
Some points along the route include:
Heise Park
Galion Public Library
Uptowne Galion
Brownella Cottage and Grace Church
Historic West Main
“This was a simple way to promote what Galion has to offer,” said Matt Echelberry, communications director for the city. “I encourage residents to get out and walk this summer, whether on this route or in their own neighborhood.”
For more information, visit https://walkyourcity.org/.
