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To See Walking Trails & Routes !
 
 
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Personal Benefits
- Walking is cheap; there are no membership fees.
- Walking can save money on gas.
- Walking is easy; a child can do it.
- Walking can be done all year, anytime.
- Walking can be done almost anywhere.
- Walking is a low impact activity (easier on the joints).
- Walking can have fiber-like (regularity) benefits.
- Walking can provide an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate nature.
- Walking can be a stress and tension buster.
- Walking can boost energy levels.
- Walking relieves depression.
- Walking improves memory.
- Walking provides an opportunity to connect with others.
- Walking enhances the immune system response.
- Walking helps relieve the pain of arthritis.
- Walking improves stamina.
- Walking aids in the ability to comfortably perform daily activities.
- Walking can help reduce the risk of falls by improving strength and balance.
- Walking strengthens bones.
- Walking improves circulation.
- Walking strengthens the heart.
- Walking lowers blood pressure.
- Walking lowers cholesterol (increases HDL and lowers triglycerides).
- Walking reduces the overall death and hospitalization rate.
- Walking reduces the risk of certain diseases (heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, type II diabetes, colon cancer).
- Walking improves muscle tone with fewer aches and pains.
- Walking helps prevent the loss of lean muscle tissue.
- Walking will decrease the percentage of body fat.
- Walking burns calories to help take weight off and maintain weight loss.
- Walking trims inches off the waistline.
- Walking can slow the aging process.
- Walking aids in falling asleep quickly and sleeping soundly.
- Walking is FUN !
Submitted By:
Susan Reece, Extension Agent
Family & Consumer Sciences
Community Benefits
Active Community Environments (ACEs) are places where people of all ages and abilities can easily enjoy walking, bicycling, and other forms of recreation. ACEs have the potential to help people be more physically active. This is because they give people more safe places to walk as well as to ride bikes and enjoy other recreational activities.
Research suggests that people who live in communities which have health-promoting infrastructure like good sidewalks, walking trails and parks are more likely to be active. This is important from both an individual and a community health perspective. Community planners, developers and lay citizens should all be aware that such community features contribute to the public health of a community and, thus, should be considered a priority when making funding decisions and developing future plans.
Additionally, the development of community features such as walking trails and parks can provide opportunities for community youth and other volunteers to be involved in service learning and community service. The development of these areas offers the opportunity to learn while measuring walking routes, painting and erecting trail markers, building benches, putting up bird houses and planting flowers or trees. Involvement in such projects can create a sense of pride in one's community as well as enhance one's own self-confidence. Once developed, walking trails and other recreational areas also provide a great destination for day cares, schools and other groups to take an outdoor field trip. Through the utilization of these health-promoting resources, children have expanded opportunities for much needed physical activity, as well as the opportunity to learn about community resources that they will hopefully encourage their families to use on a more regular basis.
Submitted By:
Carol J. Shields
Health Education Consultant and Trainer
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