Safe Routes to School | Decatur Parks & Recreation

SLOW DOWN: Wednesday is International Walk & Roll to School Day!

October 6, 2014 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

SLOW DOWN and watch for even more children than usual walking and biking to school on Wednesday!

Children in the City of Decatur will join millions of children worldwide by participating in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8, 2014.

Our schools will join other Georgia schools across the state that are participating in the event. International Walk to School Day is held each fall to remind students, parents, and communities about the many benefits of walking and biking to school. “No matter the reason: to improve students’ physical health, to teach pedestrian safety skills, to impact air quality, to build a stronger community, or to simply have fun, any school in Georgia can find a way to participate in this event ,” said Patti Sistrunk, Georgia Safe Routes to School Resource Center Manager. “It’s a great way to get the new school year started on the right ‘foot’!”

The City of Decatur has had an active, award winning SRTS program since 2005. The program won the 2008 Golden Shoe Award from PEDS for Pedestrian Friendly School System and the 2011 GRPA Publication Award. The Decatur SRTS program is managed by the Active Living Division with the help of the FABULOUS Parent Champions at each school. For more information on the City of Decatur program, visit decaturga.com/srts.

Filed under City of Decatur, City of Decatur School System Tagged with Active Living, Bicycle Friendly Community, Bike Safety, City of Decatur, City of Decatur Active Living, City Schools of Decatur, Safe Routes to School

Trinity Triangle: Bike-Ped-Car Changes for Monday Downtown

September 29, 2014 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

Construction at Trinity and E. Howard will begin in full on Monday, September 29.

Here is what travelers need to know:

E. Howard will be closed for bike-ped-car traffic including the PATH trail for an 18-24 month period starting this weekend.
In addition, there will be no sidewalk service on the south side of Trinity Street between Church Street and E. Howard Avenue. For this reason, there will be no mid-block crossing on Trinity.
Alternate routes will be posted on the street this weekend. Here is a snapshot of those alternate routes:

The alternate PATH bike route will be on Church Street and Sycamore Street.
The alternate pedestrian routes for E. Howard will be on Church Street and E. College Street.

For more information, please contact the City of Decatur, Design, Environment & Construction Division at 678.553.6570.

Filed under City of Decatur Tagged with Alternative Routes, Construction, Decatur Active Living, Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School Statewide Forum Friday in Decatur

June 2, 2014 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

Want to learn more about the Safe Routes to School Program in Georgia? Attend the FREE forum this Friday, June 6 to be held at Decatur High School. Registration and information is here. Decatur will be well represented. We will be sharing ideas and getting new ones from our counterparts throughout the state.

Filed under City of Decatur Tagged with City Schools of Decatur, Georgia Safe Routes to School Resource Center, Safe Routes to School

Congratulations to Renfroe Middle School – SRTS Partner of the Year!

May 30, 2014 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

This year Renfroe Middle School was selected as Georgia Safe Routes to School Resource Center’s Partner of the Year for the Metro Atlanta Area. Winners of this award are chosen based on the progress of their SRTS programs during the past year in getting more students to walk and bike to school and increasing the awareness of SRTS within its community. The Georgia Safe Routes to School Resource Center has recognized outstanding partners with the Partner of the Year Award since 2011.

The School SRTS Team, led by Champion and Renfroe Middle School parent, Tamara Jones, has done an outstanding job motivating children at the school to walk and bicycle to school. In October, 55% of the students participated in International Walk to School Day. More than one third of the students rode bicycles or walked on Georgia Walk to School Day, too. The principal not only supports the program, but Mr. Thomas and other staff bike to school on the Walk and Roll Days. He even leads one of the many bike trains! With a strong, school-based SRTS Team and the support of the City of Decatur Active Living, City Schools of Decatur, and other partners, the school is an outstanding SRTS Partner.

For more information on the City of Decatur Safe Routes to School program visit www.decaturga.com/srts.

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Filed under City of Decatur Tagged with Georgia Safe Routes to School Resource Center, Renfroe Middle School, Safe Routes to School, Tamara Jones

City of Decatur Recognized for Walkability

April 23, 2014 by Gael Doyle Leave a comment

City of Decatur recognized for walkability

Downtown Decatur was recently featured on American City & County’s website as an example of a successful and thriving walkable community. City Manager, Peggy Merriss is featured in a wonderful interview on the American City and County’s website: http://www.americancityandcounty.com discussing walkability in Decatur.

Filed under City of Decatur Tagged with City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living, Safe Routes to School

GA Walk & Roll Day is Wednesday

March 3, 2014 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

Be on the look-out for children walking and bicycling to school this Wednesday, March 5 as City of Decatur Schools will be participating in GA Walk & Roll to School Day!

As you may know all of our elementary schools, as well as Renfroe Middle School and St. Thomas More Catholic School, participate in this great year round program that encourages children to walk or bike to school. On special Walk & Roll Days, over 50% of our school children participate!

Thanks go to the “School Champions”, the parents at each school who organize walking school buses and bike trains to help the children to travel safely.

For more information about the City’s Safe Routes to School Program, click here.

Volunteer to Walk Children to School! If you are interested in assisting children walking to school on Wednesday mornings throughout the year, contact lisamauldin@att.net.

Filed under City of Decatur, City of Decatur School System Tagged with GA Walk & Roll to School Day, Safe Routes to School

Walkers Wanted!

January 27, 2014 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

Do you enjoy walking? Then double your walking fun by assisting with the Glennwood or Clairemont Elementary School’s Safe Routes to School Program. Children love to walk to school and we have a group of children from both schools that need additional adults to accompany them on their Wonderful Wednesday morning walks. The number of children is growing so the more adults we have walking with the group, the more fun and safer for everyone.

Not only is the walk good exercise for you and the children, but the children arrive at school with their minds and bodies prepared for the school day. You will enjoy them and their enthusiasm!

We walk every Wednesday morning, but you can help out as little or as much as fits into your schedule. To volunteer or get more information contact Lisa Coronado at lisamauldin@att.net.

Filed under City of Decatur Tagged with City of Decatur, Safe Routes to School, Walking

City Schools Open Thursday: Let’s All Slow Down and Keep Our Children Safe

July 30, 2013 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

The City Schools of Decatur open on Thursday, August 1. Please be very careful on your way to work and during the day to watch for children and parents on their way to school.

Note the school hours below as this will affect enforcement of school safety zones.

Here’s the schedule for all the schools.

Pre-K at College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
K-3 at Oakhurst and Winnona Park Elementary Schools, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
K-3 at Clairemont and Glennwood Elementary Schools, 8:10 a.m.-2:40 p.m.
4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue, 7:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Renfroe Middle School, 8:40 a.m.-3:40 p.m.
Decatur High School and Decatur Career Academy, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Let’s all slow down and keep our children safe!

Filed under City of Decatur Tagged with City Schools of Decatur, Safe Routes to School

Bicycle Safely to School

July 22, 2013 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

crossing to school Parents, please help your children to bicycle safely to school by following this simple rule:

When children and parents approach a crosswalk (crossing guard present) on a bicycle they should dismount and walk across the street. If they stay on their bikes they will be considered a vehicle and they will have to obey all traffic laws, such as stopping at stop signs, yielding, riding with traffic, etc. This is for the safety of both the children and the guard.

We look forward to working with all the schools this year through the Safe Routes to School Program. All the schools have a school Champion. Let them know if you are interested in serving ont he SRTS committee and/or volunteering to help with events or walking with children in the Walking School Buses. For more info on SRTS click here.

Filed under City of Decatur, City of Decatur School System Tagged with Bicycle Safety, City Schools of Decatur, Safe Routes to School

Walk & Roll at Clairemont Elementary Had a Spring Theme

April 4, 2013 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

Safe Routes to School Parent Champion Peter Wakefield (aka the Bike Dude) sends this in:

“A beautiful bouquet of spring flowers in the lounge reminded teachers of the allure of the season on Wednesday, April 3, when the Clairemont Crew did a great job walking, rolling, and collecting Pretty Spring Flowers—the theme of our Walk&Roll to School Day. The weather was perfect. Even the birds seemed happy to see so many smiling, walking children. Mark your calendars and join us in two weeks, Wednesday, April 17, when we’ll see if the children can whistle as happy a song as the birds do! Remember: Look both ways; then look again.”

Thanks to our wonderful parents who find fun, creative ways to encourage walking and bicycling to school!