Schools, Children Encourage Community to Get Walking

Hundreds of students from five Lemon Grove schools will get moving on Oct. 9 and participate in International Walk to School Day, a part of the Lemon Grove Walk and Roll to School Safe Routes to School Program presented by WalkSanDiego.

Lemon Grove Academy Elementary School will host City officials that Wednesday as part of their celebration. The event begins at Firefighter’s Park, the skate park, at 7:30 a.m. Students and city council members are scheduled to walk to school from the intersection of School Lane and Central Avenue to the academy on 7885 Golden Ave.

The celebration will continue at the school’s Peace Circle where there will be drawings and prizes for participation, according to organizers.

Family, friends and members of the community are encouraged to come out and take part. The International Walk to School Day activities are part of an effort in promoting physical activity, a healthier environment, reduced traffic congestion and pollution near schools, and taking back our neighborhoods for people on foot and bicycle, organizers wrote in a news release.

Other Lemon Grove schools organizing events for the 2013 International Walk to School Day events include Mount Vernon and San Miguel Elementary schools.

San Altos, Monterey Heights Elementary and Lemon Grove Academy Middle schools are promoting Walk to School Day and promoting healthy lifestyles, a cleaner environment and decreased traffic congestion, organizers said.

Organizers encourage anyone interested in International Walk to School Day to contact their local school or Juan Ramirez, WalkSanDiego at (619) 544-9255 or jaramirez@walksandiego.org. Or visit the WalkSanDiego website.