Communities can make active living easier and more inviting. We encourage infrastructure changes such as adding way-finding signs, bike racks, bike lanes, wider shoulders and other improvements. We also encourage support for making walking easier by adding sidewalks, especially if they connect playgrounds, parks or other amenities.

Resources

• Live Well Winona

  Live Well Winona is dedicated to supporting health activities and lifestyles in and around the Winona region

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  Information and resources on many health topics and chronic diseases.

• The BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota Center for Prevention

  The BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota Center for Prevention work to make Minnesota a healthier place to live, work and play daily.

• The Bicycle Friendly America Programs

  The Bicycle Friendly America Programs provide opportunity and growth for making places better for bicycling.

• Minnesota Department of Health

  The Minnesota Department of Health works to protect, maintain and improve the health of all Minnesotans.

Success Stories

• Maps Promote Walking Among Refugee and Immigrant Populations

  The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) strives to increase opportunities for physical activity. In February, 2018 Project FINE received SHIP funds to promote walking among refugee and immigrant populations.  The project included an assessment to identify barriers to walking in neighborhoods where Project FINE clients live, followed by the development of a series of guides with a map of 1 and 2-mile walking routes in these areas.

  To identify the barriers to walking, Project FINE staff spoke with 20 individuals in the Winona and Goodview area.  85% of respondents do not walk or exercise on a regular basis.  The most common reasons for not walking for exercise were: lack of infrastructure (sidewalks, crosswalks), unfamiliarity with the neighborhood or not knowing where to go and lack of motivation to exercise.  Participants were also asked where they would like to walk if it were safer.  The most common answers were in their neighborhood – in this case, Maplewood Townhomes, and Hidden Valley and Lake Village trailer courts.

  Survey findings were used to create walking guides for four areas: Maplewood Townhomes, Hidden Valley, Goodview (Lake Village) and Central Winona.  The brochures were translated into Hmong and Spanish and were made available in the neighborhoods and at several community events. An estimated 200 families received the walking routes information.

  “It’s very helpful to know how far I have walked,” said one person who has been using the walking guides. “The maps encourage me to walk more often,” said another user.

• Enhancing Active Living

  In the summer of 2016, the City of Winona received a SHIP mini-grant to support active living and bicycle infrastructure in our community. A Bike Fixtation stand was installed at the foot of the popular Holzinger Trails System.

  This project contributes to the growing active living movement by providing citizens and guests in our community with the ability to address simple DIY (do it yourself) bike repair.  The City of Winona Park and Recreation Department has taken ownership of the station, by committing to keep up its maintenance and promote this free new resource.