Parks Where You Can Walk a Mile in Your Own Shoes for Better Health

If you’re like a lot of us, the stay-at-home restrictions made us really gravitate towards the few things we actually COULD do — and daily walks became a part of a lot of families’ schedules. I mean, it’s easy — a good pair of walking shoes and a sidewalk are all you need, right? Of course, you want to be sure to social distance and wear a mask, depending on, depending on how crowded your favorite route is.

But a lot of us have learned something unexpected from our walks: It’s okay to be alone with our thoughts. We go through our day, click off things we have to do tomorrow, or just listen to birds chirp. Maybe we’ve even explored parts of our neighborhood we’ve been too busy to walk through before or waved to neighbors we never knew we had. (Do you know the name of every neighbor’s dog yet?) There is a certain peace to slowing down and viewing the world by foot at street level. (We’re sure that’s one reason for the popularity of Open Streets 704, right?)

But there are more benefits than that. Sure walking is great exercise, but here’s proof of how great it is: Multiple studies, according to Harvard Health, found that walking can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by 31%, and the risk of dying by 32%. And it doesn’t require a LOT of walking, either — just 5-6 miles per week, at a casual pace of 2 mph. If you do the math, that’s about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

You heard us — you don’t need to run to get the benefits of exercise (in case your knees aren’t a fan of running). No special equipment. No gym memberships that you can’t (or don’t want to) use right now. And pavement is usually FREE and easily accessible. And Harvard also says someone who is 140 – 160 pounds can burn 100 calories per mile this way. A 200-pound person can burn 125 calories. Great, huh?

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities (2015) notes that regular physical activity helps prevent risk factors such as high blood pressure and weight gain, and protects against chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and depression. In children, it’s a great way to relieve anxiety and depression. Heck, that makes it a great way to exercise as a family!

If your neighborhood is short on sidewalks and the streets are too busy, you’re in luck. Mecklenburg County has more than 250 miles of trails and greenways you can visit. In fact, several parks are known for their walkable trails — try Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, Freedom Park, Col. Francis Beatty Park, or Ribbonwalk, to name a few. Little Sugar Creek, McAlpine Creek, Mallard Creek, and Four Mile Creek Greenways are also popular.

For a scenic, urban walk, try Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Midtown Charlotte. Did you know it is one example of the many public-private partnerships facilitated by Partners for Parks? While Mecklenburg County built the greenway, it was donations pulled together with Partners for Parks that made it the scenic route it is today.

What started as the Spirit of Mecklenburg Fund through Partners for Parks has now organized under its own organization as the Trail of History in Midtown, according to Al Brown, Treasurer of Partners for Parks. Other sites along greenways are enhanced by landscaping and features through Partners for Parks’ Memorial Bricks, Trees, and Benches Program, or other donations facilitated by Partners for Parks.

If you need ideas beyond your own neighborhood, several websites will give you ideas for great places to walk. Try TrailLink or AllTrails for starters. Many of the parks and trails on the list have also been beautified by donations through Partners for Parks.

So put down your work, close your zoom meeting, and take 30 minutes to do something good for yourself. Fresh air and sunshine (with proper social distance) are an excellent way to build your immune system — especially now. Enjoy the beauty of a slow, simple walk once a day if you haven’t discovered this great activity already. Trust me, you’ll wonder why you never thought of this before!