Here's the press release: Walkability assessment training in Midtown on May 21.

The poster was up yesterday: Walkability assessment coming to Midtown on Saturday, May 21. Now, here's the rest of the story, courtesy of JP.

FREE WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT TRAINING AVAILABLE TO NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS

Kentuckiana area residents are invited to learn first-hand about walkable neighborhoods, why walkability matters, how to do a walkability study, and what to do with it.

“On the Street: Walkability in Your Neighborhood” will take place May 21st from 9-11:30 a.m. in the Midtown New Albany neighborhood. The group will start at Destinations Booksellers at 604 E. Spring St in New Albany, Indiana. After a presentation, the group will break into walking groups and later reconvene for a catered lunch at Central Christian Church, 1315 E. Spring St.

The event is the second of a four-part series known as the ReciproCITY Project, which addresses neighborhood stability and health topics: vacant and abandoned properties, neighborhood walkability, urban and community gardening, and public art in neighborhoods.

The goal of “On the Street: Walkability in Your Neighborhood” is to empower grassroots leaders to improve the health and safety of their neighborhood and their neighbors. By taking a critical on-the-ground look at one neighborhood, community members can replicate the methods in their own. Once a neighborhood has a completed walkability study, they can work to improve their neighborhood’s pedestrian friendliness through grassroots efforts or by partnering with their elected officials.

The event is free and a catered lunch will be provided. Spaces are limited and reservations are required. To attend, RSVP with Lydia Comer at lydiac(at)ndhc.org.

ABOUT THE RECIPROCITY PROJECT AND NEIGHBORHOOD ROUNDTABLE

Both the Neighborhood Roundtable and the ReciproCITY Project are supported by New Directions Housing Corporation, a non-profit provider of affordable housing and development in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area. The ReciproCITY Project came from the Neighborhood Roundtable, a group comprised of representatives from many different neighborhoods and organizations in Louisville and Southern Indiana. Members of this group attended the 2010 NeighborWorks America Community Leadership Institute last October to learn about solving neighborhood problems.