Walk Friendly Community

Stevens Point has been named a bronze level Walk Friendly Community. Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program which encourages cities across the U.S. to establish or recommit to a high priority for supporting safer walking environments.

The WFC program recognizes communities that are working to improve a wide range of conditions related to walking, including safety, mobility, access, and comfort.

“We work hard to make sure our community is accessible by everyone. Walking a great exercise and with nice weather here, people are walking now more than ever,” said Mayor Wiza. “Being recognized for the progress we’ve made is something we’re proud of, but clearly we have more work to do.”

Some of the things Stevens Point was recognized for include:

• The City created a resident-led Bicycle and Pedestrian Street Safety Commission that provide suggestions on walking and bicycling related topics and initiatives.
• Through updates and amendments to its policies and zoning code, the City has developed pedestrian-friendly parking and development policy language.
• The Mayor adopted a ten-minute walk to a park campaign for the purposes of expanding its service areas of parks and recreation facilities to residents. 
• The City’s Comprehensive Outdoor Park and Recreation Plan weaves parks, open space, and trails into the transportation network to provide critical connections and destinations for the public to enjoy. The Green Circle Trail is a 27-mile scenic trail that connects with more than 45 miles of other trails in the city.

https://www.walkfriendly.org offers services to help evaluate and provides feedback on initiatives cities pursue in relations to walkability.