Date:
Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 4:30am to 8:00am
Location:
Old Courthouse, Hillsborough
Via e-mail and Town of Hillsborough web site:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 23, 2008
Contact:
Holly Reid, co-founder of Walkable Hillsborough Coalition, 732-5999
Nancy Espersen, member of Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board and Walkable Hillsborough Coalition, 245-3977
Walk and Bike This Year at Walkable Hillsborough Day
HILLSBOROUGH — Join other pedestrians and cyclists in “Taking Steps to Connect” Hillsborough on June 7 in the 7th Annual Walkable Hillsborough Day, an event to celebrate National Trails Day.
The event, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Old Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough, will include two bike rides this year along with three guided walks of varying lengths and exertion.
One walk will be a 5,000-step walk that will take participants halfway to the touted fitness goal of 10,000 steps a day. That 10,000-step goal is roughly equivalent to the surgeon general’s recommendation of 30 minutes of activity most days of the week.
The guided walks and a family bike ride will leave from the Old Courthouse at 9 a.m. A 20-mile bike ride, coordinated by the Carolina Tarwheels Bicycle Club, will leave from the Visitors Center at 9 a.m. Participants in that bike ride should meet at 8:30 a.m.
After the walks and rides, participants will meet back at the courthouse at 10:30 a.m. for activities, prizes and refreshments. Games for children will include “Help the Pedestrian to the Sidewalk,” “Walkable Wishing Well” and “Eno River Swimming Holes.” Information from various organizations — such as the Eno River Association, Audubon Society and Special Transit Advisory Commission — also will be on display.
“A walkable and bikeable Hillsborough is a friendly, healthy and vital Hillsborough,” said Holly Reid, co-founder of the Walkable Hillsborough Coalition, which is coordinating the event. “Come out for Walkable Hillsborough Day and support the benefits of foot and bicycle traffic for our local businesses, personal and environmental health, and community connections for all Hillsborough residents.”
The Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board is sponsoring the event.
Sunscreen, hats and suitable footgear is suggested for participants. Bringing water bottles also is encouraged, although a watering station will be set up at Turnip Patch Park on Occoneechee Street. Hillsborough police officers will participate in the walks to ensure safety at street crossings.
In the case of rain, the event will take place at Masonic Lodge, 142 W. King St. The Old Courthouse is located at the corner of Churton and King streets. The Visitors Center is at 150 E. King St.
Participants will be able to choose from the following walks and bike rides:
5,000-Step Walk — 2.5 miles. The walk will take participants to Town Hall, through historic Hillsborough and to the future site of Riverwalk. It will end at the Farmers Market.
Short Walk — under 1 mile. The walk will take participants along Margaret Lane to Turnip Patch Park. Representatives from Turnip Patch Park and Margaret Lane Cemetery will be on hand to give an overview of the sites.
Short Walk and Bus Tour — half mile. Participants will walk to Turnip Patch Park and then continue with a bus tour highlighting Hillsborough’s current and future parks: Gold Park and Riverwalk, Murray Street Park, Kings Highway Park, Hillsborough Heights Park, Fairview Park and Mayo Pocket Park.
Twenty-Mile Ride — The route will be the 20-mile route used for BikeFest, which travels up Efland-Cedar Grove Road. The ride will be at C pace, 13 to 15 mph. Helmets are required, and participants will be asked to sign the Tarwheels’ waiver.
Family Bike Ride — The ride will follow the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough’s 6-mile route through historic Hillsborough. Cyclists will follow Margaret Lane, go through the mill village and ride to the Commandant’s House on Barracks Road. Helmets are required.
