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Urban Trail given a test run by Revere CARES Task Force

REVERE—April 6, 2011—Next Tuesday morning if you are looking for Revere’s Mayor, Police Chief or School Superintendent, you will have to meet them on the city’s new Urban Trail.

That’s because, as members of the Revere CARES Food and Fitness Task Force, Mayor Ambrosino; Police Chief Terence Reardon;and School SuperintendentDr. Paul Dakin will give the1.8-mile walking trail a test run, or rather, a test walk.

WalkBoston will guide the members of the Task Force, including Whelan School PTA President Julie DeMauro, Whelan School Principal John Macero, Parks and Recreation Director Adrienne Sacco-Maguire and several MGH volunteers, through a walkability audit of the trail.

The city hopes the new Urban Trail becomes the next fitness craze.

Revere CARES is sponsored by the MGHCenter for Community Health Improvement.

The Urban Trail is one of the community programs funded by a $59,589Mass in Motion grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

Revere CARES Food and Fitness Program Manager Sylvia R. Chiang said that through this walking trail, the community is trying to promote and support active living. “The Urban Trail is in one of Revere's mainneighborhoods and aroundof one of Revere's elementary and middle schools. Our goal is to mark in a way that it willmake it more noticeable,attractive and inviting for residents to access for commuting, exercise or fun,” she said. “Through our community-wideassessment, we learned that some people were already walking the route. We hope to increase the number of people walking it.”

Chiang said that in addition, the WhelanElementary school has become a partner of the federal Safe Routes to School program. School leaders will use the trail to promote walking to school. PTA President Julie DeMauro will organize the school’s first "Walk to School Day" next month in timeto participate in Massachusetts Walk to School Day on May 5th.

The event begins with a quick training and slideshow presentation at the WhelanSchool auditorium at 9:30 a.m., followed by the walk, and concludes with discussion.

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About Revere CARES

Revere CARES is a community coalition of approximately 350 members, dedicated to reducing and preventing alcohol and drug use among youth in Revere and to building a healthier community. The Coalition uses research-based strategies, and is founded on the belief that a community that works togetherto send clear and consistent messages to teens about substance abuse, active living, healthy eating, and violence. Revere CARES alsooffers positive alternative activities andmakes appropriate services available.

About the Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI)

CCHI carries out its work in Chelsea, Revere, and Charlestown, where MGH has maintained healthcare centers for more than 40 years. CCHI has partnered with the communities it serves to assess needs and create more than 35 programs that:

  • Reduce and prevent substance abuse and violence
  • Tackle the obesity epidemic by increasing access to healthy food and physical activity
  • Increase access to care for vulnerable populations such as immigrants and refugees, seniors, and homeless people
  • Prevent and detect cancers early in order to improve health outcomes
  • Generate interest in science and health careers among youth

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