Thursday, October 13, 2022, is Walk to School–Walk to Town Day in the Village of Chagrin Falls.
More than 400 students from the Chagrin Falls Schools are expected to participate in this 12th annual, fun community event, organized by Safe Routes Chagrin. Chagrin goes above and beyond the traditional Walk to School Day celebrated all over the nation by adding an afternoon component called “Walk to Town” which celebrates what makes Chagrin Falls special: a walkable, accessible community where students, parents, teachers, retirees, and community members all appreciate and enjoy being able to walk to the schools, shops, parks, and businesses that Chagrin Falls offers.
Chagrin Falls Middle School students will start their day by walking with their teachers to Harris Stadium to enjoy Einsteins bagels. Student Council will award prizes to teams that best represent this year’s theme “Animated Characters.” Prizes will be awarded in three categories: most accurate, most creative and most fun. In the afternoon, teams will walk to town to the Chagrin Falls Masonic Hall to participate in a scavenger hunt to sites throughout the village where Chagrin Falls Historical Society volunteers will teach them about the history of Chagrin Falls.
At Chagrin Falls Intermediate School, students will enjoy a walk to school either from home or a drop-off location to enjoy Einsteins bagels. After school, students parade to town with the Safe Routes mascot, “the chicken” to participate in a Fun Fitness Fair in Riverside Park. There, they enjoy healthy food, prizes, and many movement related activities and games provided by local merchants, including yoga, bike drills, and face painting. Prizes include gift cards to local stores so that students can return to town to shop locally and enjoy the downtown area.
“This fun event energizes students who might not normally walk to school or to town to give it a try and find out first-hand how fun it can be to enjoy being active while walking with friends,” said committee co-chair Stephanie Osborn. “Walk to School events help to emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.”
Safe Routes Chagrin wishes to thank the following event sponsors: Michele McQuade Howard Hanna, Lyndall Insurance, and Pantuso Architecture.
Safe Routes Chagrin is a cooperative endeavor between the Village of Chagrin Falls, the school district, the police department, and the community.