Bloomfield Awarded Safe Routes to School Gold Recognition for Improving Walkability and Bicycle-Friendly Routes to …
BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Last Thursday, the Township of Bloomfield and Brookdale Elementary School received a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Gold Recognition Award from EZ Ride for its efforts in providing children with safer, more accessible walking and bicycle routes to school.
The SRTS initiative is driven by less students walking to school – 48 percent in 1969 versus 15 percent in 2001, triple the prevalence of overweight children, and the higher U.S. rate of asthma and Type II diabetes. Less traffic, cleaner air and energy conservation also figure into the equation. Bloomfield was selected for a Gold Award for supporting the organization’s activities in the Township’s schools and communities. Bloomfield is only one of six municipalities in the region to obtain the ranking, along with Asbury Park, Long Branch, Elizabeth, Scotch Plains and Westwood.
“Making our community safe to walk in is a crucial quality of life issue that I think is on the upswing,” said Mayor Michael Venezia. “A Complete Streets plan was adopted at the County level several years ago, and we in Bloomfield have adjusted our town’s Master Plan to make sure that as we continue to revitalize our downtown district, walkability remains a priority.”
Bloomfield has participated in Walk to School Days, a walkability assessment, community meetings and implemented a travel plan with infrastructure upgrades. Brookdale Elementary School also received the Gold Award from the SRTS. Watsessing, Demarest and Oakview schools were the recipients of the First Step Award, and Franklin School was issued a Bronze Award.
“When children can safely walk to parks, their friends’ houses, and especially walk to school, it fosters a great sense of community, and promotes public health. Our Health and Human Services Department, under the leadership of Karen Lore, does a great job of identifying new ways to meet the physical and mental needs of our residents,” said Township Administrator Matthew Watkins. “I would like to thank SRTS and the New Jersey Department of Transportation for recognizing and encouraging our efforts to make Bloomfield a walk and bike-friendly community.”
EZ Ride is a transportation management association based in Wood-Ridge which oversees SRTS participation in much of northern New Jersey, including Essex County. SRTS is supported by the state’s Department of Transportation, and the SRTS Resource Center is located at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. A full list of winners is available at http://www.saferoutesnj.org/2018-nj-srts-recognition-program-winners/.