Walk to School Day in Upper Nyack Puts Focus on Child Safety, Fitness

Upper Nyack Elementary School plans to join schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday.   

"This will the third year we have done it," said Jill Sinnott, co-vice president of the Upper Nyack Elementary PTA. "We encourage all the students but I would say about half do it. It just encourages them to walk or bike to school."

In 2011, International Walk to School Day was celebrated at more than 4,000 events at schools across the United States, along with children and adults in 40 countries around the world.

Walk to School Day events raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment. The events build connections between families, schools and the broader community.