WILLMAR-Willmar Community Education and Recreation has been awarded a $32,000 Safe Routes to School grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation for a bicycle fleet, trailer and supplies.
According to a news release, the equipment will be used to support pedestrian and bicycle safety education at Willmar Community Education and Recreation.
Part of the Safe Routes to School program is the Walk! Bike! Fun! Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Curriculum. The course provides information and lessons to teach pedestrian safety to kindergarten through third grade and bicycle safety to fourth through sixth grade. The equipment awarded through the grant will be used in the curriculum's lessons, which include a bike ride.
Goals for Walk! Bike! Fun! Program are to increase the number of students walking or biking to school, increase the safety of young pedestrians and bicyclists along with improving the health and wellbeing of students.
The Northwest Regional Development Commission in Warren and the St. Cloud Area Public School District also received grant funds.
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Since 2005 the Minnesota Department of Transportation has given $20 million in federal funds annually to communities to support the Safe Routes to School program, especially for infrastructure projects, the news release states. In 2014 the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Dayton provided $1 million for non-infrastructure activities.
