The Minnesota Department of Transportation this week has awarded $250,000 in grants to more than 100 schools to support walking and biking programs for students.
Grants totaling $125,000 will support Safe Routes to School programs at 64 schools, reaching nearly 40,000 students. Another $125,000 in mini-grants will be used to pay for bicycle fleets, trailers and supplies in four communities and to teach bicycle safety at 37 schools.
The Safe Routes to School grants will cover costs for training and supplies for school patrol programs and for materials and incentives to encourage students to walk or bike to class. The money can also be used for things such as providing bike racks, trailers or curriculum training for teachers.
The mini-grants totaling about $2,500 each will be used for crossing guard supplies, bicycle maintenance equipment and to provide incentives to encourage students to walk or bike to class.
A total of 68 grants covering more than 100 schools was awarded, the Department of Transportation said.
More than 100 schools across the state are now supporting the Safe Routes to School program and increasing opportunities for children to walk and bike to school," said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. "More students walking and biking means less traffic on the road and near schools, improving safety and promoting healthier kids."
Since 2005, MnDOT has awarded nearly $20 million in federal funds to communities to support Safe Routes to School. The majority of funding was for infrastructure projects.
Here are the grant winners
Southwest Regional Development Commission
Riverside Elementary, Jackson; Windom Area Public Schools, Windom; Prairie Elementary, Worthington; Pipestone Area School District, Pipestone; Pleasantview Elementary, Lakeview; Jackson County Central Middle School, Lakefield; Heron Lake, Okabena and Okabena/Heron Lake; Jackson County Central High School, Jackson; Worthington Middle School and High School, Worthington
Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
Grand Marais, Moose Lake, Fond du Lac, Esko, Barnum, Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor
CentraCare Health Foundation, BLEND
Rice Elementary, Rice; Pleasantview, Sauk Rapids; Sartell Police Department, Sartell; Melrose Public Schools, Melrose
Minneapolis Public Schools
Jefferson Elementary, Pillsbury School, Whittier Community School, Bethune Community School, Seward Montessori, Bancroft Elementary School, South High School, Roosevelt High School
Mid-Minnesota Development Commission
Glencoe Silverlake School District, Glencoe; New London Spicer School District, New London; Willmar School District, Willmar
East Central Regional Development Commission
Kanabec County Safe Roads Coalition (five schools), Mora; North Branch Area Public Schools, North Branch
Arrowhead Development Commission
Minnehaha, Two Harbors; Great Expectations School, Grand Marais; Fond du lac Ojibwe School, Cloquet; Congdon Park Elementary, Duluth; William Kelley Elementary and High School, Silver Bay; Sawtooth Elementary School, Grand Marais; Washington Elementary, Cloquet; Churchill Elementary, Cloquet; Moose Lake School, Moose Lake; South Terrace Elementary, Carlton; Esko Public Schools, Esko; Myers-Wilkins Elementary, Duluth; Rippleside Elementary, Aitken; Hill City School, Hill City
West Central Initiative
Rothsay Public Schools, Rothsay
St. Paul Public Schools
American Indian at Mounds Park; Highwood Hills Elementary; Jackson Elementary; L'Etoile du Nord Lower; L'Etoile du Nord Upper; Linwood-Monroe Arts Plus; Paul and Sheila Wellstone; The Heights Community School
Live Healthy, Red Wing
Sunnyside School, Burnside School
Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission
Stevens Elementary School, Dawson; Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Murdock; Clarkfield Area Charter School, Clarkfield; Ortonville School, Ortonville
Individual Schools
St. Mark's School, St. Paul; Pine River-Backus School District, Pine River; Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School District, Lake Crystal; St. Anthony Park Elementary School, St. Paul
Bike Fleet Awards
Duluth Area Family YMCA, Duluth
Myers-Wilkins Elementary; Piedmont Elementary; Congdon Park Elementary; Lester Park Elementary; Laura MacArthur Elementary; Damiano Center; KEYzone; U of M Duluth Recreational Sports Outdoor Program; YMCA out of school time programs; YMCA Camp Miller; Duluth Police Department
Perham-Dent Public School District, Perham; and Battle Lake Public School District, Battle Lake
Heart of Lakes Elementary School; Prairie Wind Middle School; Boys and Girls Club; St. Henry's Catholic School; St. Paul's Lutheran School; Perham Area Community Center-Summer Rec; Battle Lake Public School District
St. Charles Public Schools ISD 858, St. Charles
St. Charles Elementary; St. Charles High School; St. Charles Park and Recreation; Get Active Club; Project FINE; Whitewater Country Coalition; St. Charles Community Education
Three Rivers Park District, Plymouth
Brooklyn Center Secondary Arts and IB World School; Earle Brown Elementary; Evergreen Park World Cultures Community School; Northport Elementary; Plymouth Middle School; Independent Charter; Odyssey Academy; Park Brook Elementary; Three Rivers Park District Programs; City of Brooklyn Center (Parks and Recreation, Police Department); City of Brooklyn Park (Parks and Recreation); Venture North Bike Shop