Walk, Bike and Explore Morris maps available

Are you ready to get tuned up? Summer is finally here and it's time to breathe in the fresh air and get your blood pumping.

"Walk, Bike and Explore" maps can help.

Morris is among nine communities in West Central Minnesota that created maps as part of the Statewide Health Improvement Program, to encourage more people of all ages to be more active.

Community committees worked with the West Central Wellness SHIP to create maps, each unique to its community, with identifying safe routes to walk and bike along trails, sidewalks and roadways.

The maps give the route distance, tips for walking/biking and highlights many amenities and locations along the route.

"The new SHIP 'Healthy Communities' walking maps are great reminders to the local community and visitors to get out and enjoy what are special about each of our communities." says Wayne Morford, Director of the Regional Fitness Center in Morris.

"In addition, the bike maps offer expanded opportunities to see our great natural areas and connect with other communities nearby.  We hope folks will get out, meet and connect with others, and feel good about being healthy individually and as a family."

"These things are helping to get more people out walking," said Crystal Hoepner, West Central Wellness SHIP Coordinator. "We are trying to show people how easy it is to use their own community to get physical activity every day, that the shoulders are safe to ride your bike on, and there are great trails and sidewalks to run and walk on," said Hoepner.

The "Walk, Bike and Explore" maps can also be found in Alexandria, Garfield, Glenwood, Starbuck, Lowry, Villard, Elbow Lake and Wheaton.

The Walk, Bike and Explore maps are now available in printed versions at areas in Morris and they can also be downloaded at www.WestCentralWellness.org.