For Immediate Release: April 16, 2007

For further information contact:

Cheryl Onesky, Public Information Specialist, 216-241-2414, ext. 221 or

Sally Hanley, Senior Planner, ext. 273

Help Your Community Be More Pedestrian and Bicycle Friendly

Do you have ideas for projects that could make it easier for pedestrians and bicyclists to get around in your community? Would you like to learn how to implement your vision and develop a more walkable community? Consider having your community sponsor a Walkable Communities Workshop!

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is accepting applications from cities, villages and townships to host half-day Walkable Communities Workshops in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties. NOACA is partnering with the National Center for Bicycling and Walking to conduct the workshops, which will be held the week of June 25, 2007. The workshops can focus on Walkable Communities, Safe Routes to Schools, or both of these topics.

In October 2006 NOACA sponsored five successful Walkable Communities Workshops in Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties. The workshops provided community leaders and planners with new tools and ideas for making their communities more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Photos from last fall’s workshops are available on NOACA’s Web site.

NOACA has mailed application packets to mayors, county planning organizations and other government agencies in Northeast Ohio. Non-governmental organizations and neighborhood groups may also apply to host a workshop, as long as there is a partnership with a city, village, transit organization, metropark or other government agency to ensure that any resulting projects are eligible for federal funding assistance.

Application materials are available on the NOACA Web site, and applications are due May 14, 2007. You may also contact NOACA Senior Planner Sally Hanley at 216-241-2414, ext. 273, to learn more about the workshops and how to apply to host one.

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The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is an association of state, county, city, village, and township public officials that works to address current and future transportation, air-quality, and water-quality needs in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties. NOACA and its partners cooperatively develop and implement plans to ensure that travel throughout the region is safe, cost-effective and environmentally sound.

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