Columbia Wins 'Active Living' Recognition

Trailnet, the premier non-profit organization developing bike and pedestrian trails, saving green spaces and advocating alternative transportation across the St. Louis metropolitan area, has chosen the City of Columbia as recipient of the 2011 Active Living Award recognizing achievement by a municipality.  The annual awards celebrate the individuals, nonprofits, municipalities, and businesses who are engaged in unique and sustainable efforts to incorporate physical activity into everyday living.

On September 20, Columbia will be recognized at the awards ceremony held at the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. Registrations can be made online through the Trailnet website.

Nominated by Scott Rodemich of Marketicity--formerly a member of the Play Commission--Trailnet recognizes Columbia's commitment to encouraging walking and biking.  Despite the economic downturn and severely restricted revenues, Columbia's leaders continue to make investments in projects and planning that continues to build community momentum, such as:

• Construction of a new sidewalk along Temple, connecting Main St. with Parkview School and the city's largest park;
• Installation of fixed speed feedback signs at two key crosswalks on Main St.;
• Development and annual expansion of a School Travel Plan through the Safe Routes to School program;
• Updating the City's Open Space, Bike & Greenway Alignment Plan;
• Creating a Play Commission and winning recognition for two years in a row as the St. Louis region's solitary Playful City USA;
• Initiating a new master planning process for a 33.8 acre park in the Admiral Trost Development Subdivision