The YMCA of Laurel Highlands is joining a state effort to get residents outside and walking on a regular basis.
Located in East Huntingdon, the Y is planning to establish a designated walking route in adjacent Mt. Pleasant Borough as part of the state’s WalkWorks program.
It would be the first community in Westmoreland County to participate in the program, which promotes development of safe walking routes of up to 2 miles to increase physical activity for residents and visitors.
The Mt. Pleasant route would cover about 1.5 miles, said Bea Jarbeck-Burk, director of fitness at the Y. As planned, it would begin and end at Frick Park — following sidewalks along sections of several streets, including Church, Walnut, Washington and Eagle.
“It’s really in the early stages right now,” Jarbeck-Burk said. “I’m working with the borough council and borough manager so we’re all on board before it launches.”
She suggested the walking route might be formally introduced to the public during the Mt. Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival, which was canceled in 2020 because of the covid-19 pandemic but is expected to return this year, Sept. 24-26.
WalkWorks, which is a partnership between the state Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, can provide technical assistance, signage and promotional materials for the walking route.
The ultimate goal is to schedule organized group walks along the route and encourage ongoing physical activity.
Laurel Highlands Y Executive Director Steve Simon suggested the group walks might have an educational component, with a speaker addressing health and fitness topics.
“There could be a little bit of learning while you’re out there walking,” he said. “There definitely would be some camaraderie and motivation.”
“We have a lot of walkers in town now,” Borough Manager Jeff Landy said. “It will be nice to have a route we can tell people to follow. It’s going to be a safe route and a marked route they can follow as one of their routines.”
Allegheny County has five WalkWorks routes — in Braddock, Brentwood, Coraopolis and Sharpsburg, and along Meeks Run Trail.
