FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Springfield, in partnership with Springfield Public Schools, SafeKids Springfield and TrailSpring, is encouraging students to bike or walk to school on Bike to School Day, Wednesday, May 9.
Community partners are using the Bike to School Day designation to encourage children to become more active in their everyday lives. While all children are encouraged to participate, students from Springfield’s Horace Mann Elementary who bike or walk to school on Wednesday will receive giveaways and the chance to win one of two new bicycles, donated by TrailSpring. Springfield Greene-County Health Department staff will be available to talk about the health benefits of walking or riding to school.
SafeKids Springfield will provide students with a limited number of bike helmets, reflectors and safety-related information. Bike helmet fittings will be available for students who don’t have a helmet, while supplies last.
The Bike to School Day event is being held in conjunction with the opening of a new crosswalk at Broadway and Walnut Lawn, benefiting Horace Mann students. Public Works staff and “Mr. Walker” will be on hand Wednesday morning to encourage drivers in the area to slow down and yield to pedestrians. The Springfield Fire Department will also be available to help assist bikers and walkers across the street during the event.
In partnership with Bell Sports and SafeKids Worldwide, Bike to School Day will be celebrated in hundreds of communities across the United States as part of National Bike Month. All events will promote biking to school as a healthy, safe and fun way to travel, while highlighting important safety information, such as wearing a helmet.
Other event partners include TrailSpring, which is on a mission to improve the physical health and activity level of people in the Springfield area by creating and maintaining a network of multi-use trails, which will also increase the economic vitality of the region.
The Health Department encourages all children to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This helps prevent diseases such as cancer and obesity, improves thinking and concentration skills, provides energy and helps children feel happier.
Health Department staff and volunteers will begin taking names for the drawing and handing out helmets at Horace Mann at 7:45 a.m.
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For more information, please contact Springfield-Greene County Health Department Community Wellness Coordinator Cara Erwin at 417-619-7592.