People asked to help with walkability assessment
By Terry Murry on Thursday, June 10th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The cities of Walla Walla and College Place, plus the Blue Zones Project Walla Walla ask residents to join city and county leaders in a walkability assessment of area neighborhoods. The assessments will measure how friendly an area is for walking or biking.
During the tours, community members will join city and county leaders in identifying characteristics of the physical environment that encourage active transportation. They will also learn what city and county leaders are doing to improve the environment to make biking and walking safer.
In addition, participants will learn what areas are slated for future improvements and how upgrades to sidewalks, bike lanes, street lighting, signage, tree cover and natural barriers will help an area feel more comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists.
The first walkability assessment will be Monday, June 14 from 2-3:30 p.m. and leave from the Walla Walla Library’s Poplar Street parking lot. The route will explore the Isaacs Avenue reconstruction and then tour an area that will see similar upgrades next year.
The second walkability assessment will be on Thursday, June 17 from 5:30-7 p.m. and leave from College Place City Hall.
The third walkability assessment will be on Saturday, June 19 from 11-12:30 p.m. and leave from the Children’s Home Society of Washington parking lot off Tietan Street. A free bike safety event will following this assessment at the Children’s Home Society.
The walkability assessments are free, but advanced registration is required. To register, visit the Walla Walla Valley Blue Zones Project website. The Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to a city’s environment, policy, and social networks.
