Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) was awarded a sizable grant to collaborate with Get Fit Festus to implement the “Get Moving Twin Cities” project. Get Fit Festus is a coalition dedicated to improving the health of residents in the Festus-Crystal City region. It is comprised of representatives from Jefferson Regional Medical Center, the Jefferson County Family YMCA, the City of Festus, Jefferson County Health Department and community members.
Get Moving Twin Cities seeks to work with the cities of Festus and Crystal City to develop and adopt a complete street policy in Year 1 of the project. (A complete street is defined as a street that is designed and operated to enable safe access for all users including pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists of all ages.)
At the end of Year 1 and throughout Year 2, JCHD will focus on increasing physical activity by promoting the use of both current and newly constructed bike routes via the installation of bike racks and signage along routes in the Twin Cities, implementation of a Bike-to-School program for students of all ages in the Festus School District, and through creation of community bike route maps which will be distributed at various businesses and available at kiosks in parks in the Twin Cities. Promotional activities including a Bike-to-Work Day event and four community bike rides in the Twin Cities will also be used to increase physical activity via bicycling on community routes. Additionally, the Bike-to-School program will require students to complete an intensive bike safety course prior to participation in the program. Safety classes are designed to increase confidence in bicycling and, therefore, increase the use of bike routes and lanes not only in the Bike-to-School program but also as a recreational activity.
Thanks Melissa and all who worked so hard!!
