2015 Walkable Washington Symposium & Awards on April 2 to be held at Redmond City Hall

Excitement is escalating for the 2015 Walkable Washington Symposium & Awards on Thursday, April 2

 

 

From Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s recent introduction of his ten-year transportation vision called Move Seattle that includes long-term plans to make the city more walkable to the celebratory Opening Day for Trails with several guided walks in Spokane, Washington has walking on its mind.

The new prioritizing for people means perfect timing for the state’s only event designed to provide a learning forum, creative networking opportunities, helpful resources, and awards to organizations and cities building healthy, livable and walkable communities. The Walkable Washington Symposium & Awards held on Thursday April 2, 2015 from 9am-4pm, offers a fun learning environment with sessions moderated by experts to discuss projects and programs implemented in recent years throughout the state.

Over 100 leaders, planners, engineers, educators, and advocates from across the state will attend this event, hosted by Feet First, to educate, energize and inspire the next generation of leaders. As evidenced by the latest Feet First map of case studies of projects and programs across Washington, there is tremendous interest in making Washington’s communities safer, easier, and more inviting for people to walk.

“We are thrilled to bring a diverse representation of people from across the state to celebrate walkable and livable communities. Our annual Symposium & Awards event creates a unique opportunity for speakers and participants to share, learn, and network, which takes the walking movement in Washington to a whole new level,” Lisa Quinn, Executive Director, Feet First.

Attendees will enjoy a diverse array of presentations, opportunities for networking with peers from across the state, and other engaging highlights throughout the day:

·         Welcoming remarks from the City of Redmond’s Mayor, John Marchione.

·         Keynote address by stirring guest speaker Dan Burden, Civic Visionary and Walkability Expert at Blue Zones.

·         A WALKshop of the Redmond Central Connector that highlights the integrated art, lighting, future downtown park, and urban plazas along the paved trail, knitting together over 60 miles of the East Lake Sammamish and Sammamish River Trails.

·         The 2015 Innovation Awards, which recognize outstanding programs and projects from across the state that promote healthy, livable, and walkable communities.

·         A chance to experience a unique form of digital communication, Trace, which invites people to explore the shape of walks.

The Walkable Washington Symposium & Awards is scheduled for 9 am to 4 pm, Thursday April 2, 2015 at Redmond City Hall, 15670 Northeast 85th Street. The City of Redmond was a 2014 Innovation Award Winner.

The Walkable Washington Symposium & Awards also provides 3.5 American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) continuing education credits.