Abingdon celebrates the public opening of the Urban Pathway April 12, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 7, 2019

Abingdon celebrates the public opening of the Urban Pathway April 12, 2019

with a free community event and the kickoff of the Corporate Challenge

Abingdon, VA -   Abingdon has made great strides in its goal to become more walkable with the official opening of the Urban Pathway, a mixed-use recreation trail running through the downtown district.  The Town of Abingdon will celebrate the opening with a free community kickoff event, happening Friday April 12, 2019 from 11am to 2pm.  The event will also kickoff the Urban Pathway Corporate Challenge, co-sponsored by Ballad Health, Food City, Town of Abingdon and Washington County Chamber of Commerce, which encourages local businesses of all sizes are to enter and to challenge their employees to walk – on the Urban Pathway, Virginia Creeper Trail, around the block or on the treadmill.

The Abingdon Urban Pathway runs for 1.625 miles east-west from Tanner Street to the Abingdon Muster Grounds, and is open to pedestrians and bicycles. It intersects with the trailhead of the Virginia Creeper Trail on Green Spring Road, which runs north/south.  Between the Creeper Trail and Urban Pathway, this trail system makes it possible to get almost anywhere in Town without hitting a major traffic artery, which is especially appealing families with kids and strollers.

The kickoff for the Urban Pathway Corporate Challenge will take place Friday, April 12th from 11am to 2pm at the Abingdon Market Pavilion on Remsburg Drive.  The Market Pavilion is located right on the Urban Pathway so guests can be some of the first to walk the path. 

The Urban Pathway Corporate Challenge kickoffs on April 12th, and continue through July 15, 2019.  The Challenge is meant to encourage more activity (miles walked) on the Pathway and throughout town, as a way to better health.  Each participant will track their own steps throughout the Challenge, and the winner will be announced at the July breakfast meeting of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. The winning company will be presented with the Corporate Challenge Trophy.

The Abingdon Urban Path System will cater to pedestrians and bicyclists, through a series of paths and sidewalks that weave 1.625 miles through the town, allowing people to walk from one end of town to the other.  The path will enable citizens, as well as tourists to walk or bike to restaurants, attractions, shops and events, as well as making it easier to take more steps, and make healthier choices.

The Urban Pathway has been over five years in the making, and would not have been possible without the Town's commitment and the cooperation of property owners along the Pathway.

LOGO RECOGNITION: Many thanks for Christina Druen at Food City for developing the official Urban Pathway Corporate Challenge logo.

Corporate Challenge Kick-Off – Walk for the health of it!

·       Enroll your team by contacting the Washington County Chamber of Commerce by phone 276.628.8141 or email chamber@bvu.net.

·       Or enroll on April 12 at the Abingdon Farmer’s Market from 11 am – 2pm.

·       Team members keep a log of the number of miles they walk between April 15 and July 15. Team members report their miles to their Team Leader weekly.

·       Team with the highest number of average miles walked per team member wins the Corporate Challenge Trophy.

·       Official Corporate Challenge Logo T-shirts are available for $12. All proceeds benefit the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

·       Ballad Health will offer blood pressure checks, free health screenings, and giveaways.

·       Food City will be there with giveaways.

·       Door Prizes – drawings at NOON and 1 pm.