Senator Bond Encourages A Healthy Lifestyle
U.S. Senator Christopher S. “Kit” Bond was the guest of honor at PedNet’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Columbia Celebration and GetAbout Columbia Ribbon Cutting on Friday, April 17.
The day began with Sen. Bond walking to school with about 50 students from West Boulevard Elementary. In his speech to the children he stressed that now is the time for them to develop healthy habits, such as eating good food and getting regular exercise. “Remember,” said Sen. Bond. “A couch is a place to rest, not a place to live.”
Sen. Bond’s second appearance was at the GetAbout Columbia ribbon cutting for the new MKT Trail Plaza on the corner of Stewart Road and Providence Road. The new plaza features benches, a water fountain, new landscaping and improved connectors for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users. The plaza improvements, funded by GetAbout Columbia, are part of the $22 million federal Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program. In 2005, Sen. Bond's support was essential in Columbia being awarded this grant.
The ribbon cutting, hosted by Mayor Darwin Hindman, also featured representatives from several national advocacy organizations, including the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Sen. Bond spoke of the importance of active transportation choices for a vibrant community and commented on the work that is being doing to create a healthy environment for children with the Healthy Kids, Healthy Columbia initiative.
A reception was held at the YouZeum after the event.
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