Southington Students Take to the Streets in the Name of Exercise (Video)

Walking to school on a daily basis isn’t an option for eighth-graders Hannah Swearsky and Megan Hamilton, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the beautiful weather and a walk with friends on Thursday morning.

“If they did this more often, I’d definitely do it. Exercise is fun and we both love to walk, it’s just easier when everyone else is coming together to do it as well,” said Swearsky, who lives on West Center Street.

The two were among a group of more than 70 students who gave their bus drivers or parents the day off on Thursday, coming together to walk from the Plantsville Town Green to school as part of the town’s second annual “” hosted by Activate Southington.

The program is designed to encourage students to live a more active lifestyle, while a grant in partnership with the federal “Safe Routes to School” program allows volunteers to monitor the event and determine how to make the streets safer for students said Jan Verederame, member of Activate Southington.

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The program in 2011 included only , but in 2012, both public middle schools were involved in the event and saw nearly 150 students get involved.

“The idea is to promote wellness,” Verderame said. “ We have some work to do, to make sure the routes to school are safe and students today will hear a lot about how to safely make the walk.”

Students were greeted by volunteers with Activate Southington, who took simple four question surveys to gather information on whether students felt more productive when they walked, if they felt there were any dangers along the route and if they would be more likely to walk or bike regularly if there was an easier way to go to school.

“What we found last year is initially, many students believe there isn’t safe access along the way,” Verderame said. “We can’t promote this as a safe program unless we can find a way to improve upon this.”

According to surveys conducted the morning of June 16, 2011, 40 percent of the students live within walking distance, or 1.5 miles, of the school. Yet only 12 percent of the students choose to walk or bike to school.

Those who do choose to walk or bike have to navigate busy roads, many of which have inadequate, or missing, crosswalks or sidewalks. In response to these obstacles to active transportation, the Southington “” Committee outlined a series of recommendations for improving the existing conditions surrounding DePaolo Middle School.

Mark D’Agostino, a sixth-grade student at Kennedy, said he was happy to break from his usual routine and join the students walking.

“I live on DeFashion Street, so I can’t do this everyday. Usually I just take the bus,” he said. “This is a good idea though, and I hope we get to do this more often.”

Joining the students Thursday – along with a special visit from Pucky the Whale – Kennedy Principal Angelo Campagnano said he was happy to get involved and was pleased to see so many students take part in Thursday’s program.

He said he remembers walking as a kid, something many people did back then, but he understands why it may be difficult for students in Southington today.

“I’m hoping this is a program that will eventually expand, maybe once per month, in order to get the students active. Anything we can do to help them is a good thing,” he said.

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