More than 150 Echo Park Elementary School students will be walking or biking to school in
2011-2012. Many of those students have to use sidewalks along busy county highways and city streets to get to school each day. Earlier this year, Burnsville Police and Public Works staff met with school officials to develop a "safe route to school" program that went into effect with the new school year. The City posted custom signs with the school’s penguin mascot along the safe route, while the school promoted the program to students and parents.
The program’s grand kickoff event will be National Walk to School Day scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5. Echo Park students will gather at Lake Alimagnet Park and walk to school along County Road 11 accompanied by Burnsville Police officers, Echo Park and City staff. Also making a special appearance this year is the Waddle Squad from the Minnesota Zoo, who will teach the students how to do "The Waddle" – the official dance of the 3M Penguins of the African Coast exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo.
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International Walk to School Day is a global event where communities from over 40 countries walk and bike to school on a single day. Families, schools and communities around the globe walk and bicycle to school in celebration of Walk to School Day every October.
Learn more about the day and who is participating at www.walktoschool.org.
