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Thank you everyone for your efforts to make Minnesota’s Walk to School Day a success! We had another fantastic year, with more than 160 schools registering (and even more participating) around the state. That’s more than North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin combined.
We even had Gov. Tim Walz sign a proclamation declaring Oct. 6 as “Walk to School Day.”
Creativity for celebrating walking was abundant. Many schools, elected officials, local sports teams and school mascots greeted walkers in the morning. Other schools were handing out healthy treats or local apples to walkers for a morning snack. Rural schools took a break during class to go for a walk during the day. Remote drop offs for all students to get a walk in before school were the most common way to celebrate Walk to School Day. These are fun and easy ways to get kids moving and encourage students to get their steps in every day.
Many of you took photos and posted to social media for the Minnesota Safe Routes to School Walk to School Day photo contest. While we were only able to choose one winner, we were thoroughly impressed by the obvious commitment to walking and bicycling throughout Minnesota.
And the winner is: Riverside Elementary School (Rochester)
Congratulations to Riverside Elementary. They captured so many beautiful moments during their walk to school day event, as they said, their “rainy October morning quickly turned into a beautiful morning for Walk to School Day! Riverside Elementary students and staff had a fun morning on their way to school, even Slider, the mascot of Rochester Honkers Baseball came along!” We loved how this photo captures the true joy of riding a bicycle.
Honorable mention
And while we loved smiles in Rochester, we’d be remiss not to mention some of our other favorites coming from previous Walk to School Day Photo contest winners in Duluth and Minneapolis:
Congdon Park Elementary School (Duluth)
Congdon Park students came out in full force and we really enjoyed seeing this greeting line making arrival at school feel like winning the Super Bowl. Way to go, Congdon!
 Hiawatha/Howe Elementary School (Minneapolis)
How great is this crossing guard dressed as a banana while helping students safely cross the street on this Bus Stop and Walk at Hiawatha/Howe Elementary in Minneapolis? We loved it!
 We’d like to thank those who participated in this year’s contest. Please take a look at some of our other favorite photo submissions, by checking out our Facebook page or search the #MNwalks hashtag.
Upcoming grant opportunities
Current SRTS funding opportunities:
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Planning assistance (Develop a Safe Routes to School Plan)
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Due Jan. 11, 2023: Grants to schools and communities to develop comprehensive SRTS plans. Plans are completed by regional development organizations or a statewide SRTS consultant.
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SRTS Boost Grants (Program implementation)
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Due Nov. 30, 2022: Intended to boost local walking and bicycling efforts, SRTS Boost grants fund non-infrastructure strategies to help support current SRTS plans or programs (walking school buses, bike fleets to bike racks or crossing guard supplies).
In the news:
Join the Safe Routes National List Serve
There is a Safe Routes National Partnership list serve to ask questions and learn about work from across the country. You can either view the history of discussion in the google group or as emails come in.
If you have a Google account, you can join through this link. If not, email Brittany at brittany@saferoutespartnership.org and she can add you.
Upcoming events:
Feb. 1, 2023 – Winter Walk to School Day
May 3, 2023 - Bike to School Day
Resources
Order free MN Bike Maps and MN Bicycle Handbooks for your organization’s events!
Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum, bike fleet trailer request and future training opportunitiesClick to edit this placeholder text.
More about MnSRTS
Visit: http://www.mnsaferoutestoschool.org
Follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaSafeRoutestoSchool/
MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all people in their programs, services and activities.
- If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or documents in an alternative format (such as braille, large print or in a different language) at no cost, please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720. Relay service: 711.
- If you need any another reasonable accommodation to participate (such as seating modification or auxiliary aids), please email your request to Accessibility.DOT@state.mn.us or call 1-833-400-8432. Relay service: 711.
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