‘One planet, one people, one Warwick’

WARWICK — The weather was near perfect. And some groups had picnics on blankets. Some children went fishing in the creek and others simply enjoyed the playground and the handball court.

On Monday, April 22, Park Avenue Elementary school parents hosted an all district “Walk 2 Play” event to promote Earth Day, as well as extend a hand of reconciliation to the families of Kings Elementary, which is scheduled to close.

The group walked from Park Avenue School to Stanley Deming Park under the theme of “One planet, one people, one Warwick.”

Recently, many parents of Kings Elementary were upset when the Warwick Board of Education voted on March 18 to shut down their school rather than Park Avenue, which had first been recommended for closure. The district argued that it had to close a budget gap and adjust to declines in student enrollment.

“We are hoping this event brings the community closer together,” said Carleen Hsu, a Park Avenue mother. “At the same time, it will promote walking, healthy choices, sustainability, saving money and saving the planet.”

Approximately 250 children from Pre-K to Grade 5, along with parents, participated in the event.

The children walked from Park Avenue Elementary School to Stanley-Deming Park carrying garbage bags to clean up trash as they walked.

Parents and children from the entire Warwick School District had been invited to participate and many parents from other schools drove their children to the park.

As part of STEPS (Schools That Encourage Pedestrian Students), a walking school bus pilot program has been proposed for the Park Avenue School. The “safe walking mile,” would include safety features such as good sidewalks and lights. If children cannot walk safely to school, they would still be eligible for bus transportation.

According to the proposal under consideration, this “walking school bus” is simply a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. It can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their kids to school to as structured as a route with meeting points, a timetable, and a regularly rotated schedule of trained volunteers.