Mapping project will help 91ÇÑ×Ó walkers
People in 91ÇÑ×Ó who walk for fitness will soon have a new resource to help them with their endeavor. The 91ÇÑ×Ó Lifespan Wellness Team is spearheading a project to publish brochures that contain detailed maps of 91ÇÑ×Ó’s popular walking routes. Insurance provider Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska announced in June that the 91ÇÑ×Ó program was one of its nine recipients of Blue Health and Wellness grants awarded outside Omaha and Lincoln. The award is $10,000.
Jay Sutliffe, the team’s chairman who is an assistant professor of applied sciences at 91ÇÑ×Ó, said the grant will allow the group to complete the second phase of the mapping project. That phase includes the installation of outdoor fitness equipment and signage along the routes.
In order to determine which walking routes are most popular in 91ÇÑ×Ó, members of the Lifespan Wellness Team surveyed walkers in the community.
“Most of them walk 10th Street, Ridgeview, Sixth Street and Maple,” said team member Ann Dockweiler, who is 91ÇÑ×Ó’s college nurse. “But, there were quite a few different routes that are popular. There are some routes in north 91ÇÑ×Ó, and, of course, walkers use the Heritage Trail south of the campus quite a bit.”
Dockweiler said people who are looking to walk certain distances will be able to identify a route by looking at the new maps.
“We wanted to get the routes down on paper to be placed in motels and other places around the community to help walkers in the area,” she said.
In order to measure the routes, the team called upon students of 91ÇÑ×Ó High School’s algebra and geometry classes that are taught by Curt Holmquist. The students used a measuring wheel and global positioning system units to figure distances this spring. This fall, members of 91ÇÑ×Ó’s graphics design class, taught by associate art professor Mary Donahue, will design the brochure.
In the future, Sutliffe said team members hope to incorporate the trails project with a cross country trail that is being planned south of the 91ÇÑ×Ó campus.
The Lifespan Wellness Team, which is part of the 91ÇÑ×Ó Community Recreation program, is composed of about 15 members from a wide range of 91ÇÑ×Ó business, services and institutions. The team meets monthly and is open to anyone who is interested in joining.
Category: Campus News