Kansas City celebrates Walk to School Day with events at schools across the metro

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Two dozen Kansas City-area schools have registered for International Walk to School Day events on Wednesday.

In Kansas City, Mo., the city has teamed up with Active Living KC and the Hickman Mills School District to put on three events at Hickman elementary schools.

"Having children walk to school with one or more adults is an active, fun and healthy means to get to school," said Ashley Winchell, Active Living KC safer routes manager.

Ten other events are registered on www.walkbiketoschool.org in Kansas City, Mo. Elsewhere on the Missouri side of the metro, there’s two in Lee’s Summit and one in Independence.

In Kansas, area events are also planned in Kansas City, Overland Park, Shawnee, Mission, Prairie Village, Roeland Park and Lansing.

“Walk to School Day continues to inspire community-grown events that celebrate health, safety and a sense of community,” said Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School, which serves as the coordinating agency for International Walk to School Day. “Often, this one-day event becomes the catalyst to larger commitments and permanent improvements that make walking and bicycling to school safer transportation options year round.”

For a list of area schools holding Walk to School Day events, visit http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/go/whos-walking/2012