Standing in downtown Winona, residents and visitors can plainly see how long it takes to walk to a nearby business or park, with the hopes that they forgo getting in their cars and driving to their next errand.
"3 minute walk to pharmacy" says one sign with an arrow. "4 minute walk to a grocery store," reads another.
They are part of the Winona County Active Living Committee's initiative to encourage people to exercise there and in St. Charles. All told, nearly 100 temporary corrugated-plastic signs will go up in the two southeast Minnesota cities, thanks to about $550 in design and printing funding from the Statewide Health Improvement Program.
The signs are meant to remind people how easy it is to walk during multi-stop trips "in the same amount of time or shorter than it would take to move their car to a parking spot," said Janneke Sobeck, community wellness director of Live Well Winona.
The signs will come down at the end of October. Depending upon response, the project could bring permanent signs later.
Pam Louwagie @pamlouwagieIsanti
DNR predicts spectacular fall colors this year
Fall is coming to Minnesota, and this year it should be spectacular.
The Department of Natural Resources predicts that summer rains will pay off with fabulous fall colors, and has set up a site to help leaf peepers. The site — www.mndnr.gov/fallcolor — is designed to help Minnesotans synchronize their fall hikes, bike rides, paddling trips and scenic drives with peak color. It will be updated weekly.
The DNR has organized a series of programs to mark the season, including a lantern-lit hike at Itasca State Park on Sept. 26.
