National Center for Safe Routes to School announces Wisconsin grant recipients

The National Center for Safe Routes to School announced today the selection of 34 recipients to receive $1,000 mini-grants for projects designed to encourage safe walking and bicycling to school. The mini-grant activities, many of which are driven by student leadership, will occur during the fall semester of the 2010-2011 school year.

"The innovation and creativity of the mini-grant applications we received are impressive," said Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School. "The projects addressed a variety of local issues and concerns — truancy, tardiness, environmental effects of vehicle idling, student health, school zone safety — all of which illustrate the diverse approaches communities are taking to create successful walking and bicycling to school programs."

Adams, Monroe and Madison Elementary Schools and the School District (Janesville, Wis.) will begin a walking school bus program with adult chaperones accompanying students along the designated routes to address personal security issues. Students will create the logo for the city's Safe Routes to School program.

The School District of Omro (Omro, Wis.) will build, maintain, communicate, and routinely set up standardized visual reference points along safe routes to school. The district will construct six benches and social tables to be placed at the designated starting points in Omro during the monthly Walk to School group events. The district will improve the Omro Bike Rodeo event and will organize, plan, and implement a bicycle train along the safe routes to school path.

Westview Elementary School (Platteville, Wis.) will lead its third grade students in safe routes to school through its curriculum and walking school buses. Students will see SRTS tied to class lessons in civics and math, by using pedometers and graphing, and in health, by learning about exercise and crosswalk safety. Participation in walking school buses will result in additional special gym activities.

Visit the Safe Routes to School National Partnership for more information on the other winners.