OSHKOSH (WLUK) — There are more than 140 public parks in Winnebago County.
The health department’s Emily Dieringer tells WLUK that is a good step toward a healthy local lifestyle.
“People living within a ten minute walk of a park actually get more physical activity, almost 50% more physical activity than someone who doesn’t live in ten minutes’ walking distance of a park.”
ReThink, an arm of the health department, is asking county residents to take a survey about park accessibility.
“Where do you go to the park? How do you get there? What are some good things and bad things about the experience?”
The goal is for, when the weather is nicer and people want to go to the parks, that everyone can get there in a safe way.
Individual communities within the county are involved in the survey.
Ray Maurer, Oshkosh’s Parks director, tells WLUK it’s important to work across those boundaries.
“Make sure we have regional connection on our trails and bike paths.”
Maurer says Oshkosh already works with neighborhood groups to ensure safe access to parks.
“They’ve been instrumental in helping us to say there’s some ways to improve access, whether that’s through the parks department or through our bike and pedestrian committee we have in the city.”
But with more than 44 parks in the city, Maurer says there is always room for improvement.
“I still think that a number of our neighborhood parks, there’s some areas in the city that don’t have sidewalks.”
Dieringer said once the survey answers are, there will be a clearer focus.
“What are the priority parks that people go to most often? Or maybe where are the most challenging to get to?”
She says improvements like new trails, sidewalks, or bus routes will come from there.
The survey will be available until the end of the month.
