SARANAC LAKE — The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has designated Saranac Lake a silver level Walk Friendly Community for its walkability initiatives and programs. Sponsored by FedEx, Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program aimed at recognizing communities for their commitment to pedestrian safety.
Saranac Lake is designated as a Silver-level community due to the impressive levels of walking and excellent planning efforts. Highlights of Saranac Lake’s application include:
- The steps the village has taken to implement theBicycle and Pedestrian Trail Plan, which included inventories, programs, priority projects, design guidance, and a plan for implementation. Their annual progress reports can serve as a model for other communities.
- A Complete Streets policy and new Development Code which was adopted in 2016 along with a program for implementation. The Development Code includes parking maximums, good parking location requirements, connectivity requirements, density bonuses and architectural design standards.
- Clear, ongoing commitment to Safe Routes to School at Petrova Elementary. The village uses walk audits to teach students about pedestrian safety and the built environment while identifying opportunities to improve the area around the school. Petrova Elementary will be kicking off their fifth annual Walk & Bike to School Month on May 7.
- An active Parks and Trails advisory board which serves as the mechanism by which pedestrians are considered in all projects and documents.
“We typically don’t see this level of commitment to walkability and pedestrian safety from a small village or town. Most of our silver-level communities are large cities, so we’re thrilled to showcase Saranac Lake as an example of a small community doing great things for pedestrians,” said Dan Gelinne, Program Manager, Walk Friendly Communities. “Saranac Lake is using progressive plans and policies to support pedestrian-friendly changes to its streets, and we think other communities can learn a great deal from their approach to improving walkability.”
Saranac Lake is among 10 communities recognized in the latest round of Walk Friendly Communities announced. The Walk Friendly Community designation, awarded from bronze to platinum, is given to applicant communities that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans and policies. To date, 71 communities in the U.S. have been designated as Walk Friendly Communities.
For more information on Walk Friendly Communities, please visit http://www.walkfriendly.org.
For more information on Saranac Lake’s award contact Jamie Konkoski at comdev@saranaclakeny.gov or 518-891-4150 x235.
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Additional Resources:
Walk Friendly Communities Website
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Website
Federal Highway Administration Website
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