ILION — The village of Ilion will soon have a mile-long walking route designed to encourage people to make exercise a part of their regular routine.
Elyse Enea, program coordinator at Herkimer County HealthNet, was on hand for Wednesday’s Ilion village board meeting to present the Mohawk Valley Mile proposal and ask for board approval.
HealthNet would provide the eight or nine signs that would be needed to direct people around the one-mile route. HealthNet could also supply the posts, Enea said. The village would have to put up the signs. The route starts from the Ilion Free Public Library. Walkers would head east on Second Street, then southwest on Otsego Street to Fourth Street, northwest on Fourth Street to John Street and east on Second Street to return to the library.
“Most of the sidewalks are in good condition,” she said.
A grant from CNY Impact is funding the program, according to Enea.
The program is based on the Monday Mile program in Syracuse that encourages people to get out and walk. Enea said research shows that people who exercise at the start of the week are more likely to continue exercising throughout the remainder of the week.
The village board approved the plan.
HealthNet previously received approval to set up a walking route in the village of Herkimer and is working to establish routes in other local villages as well.