Striving to make Lehigh Valley streets and sidewalks safer
Join us for a walk audit to determine areas of improvement that will support an age-friendly community.
Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley Walk Audit 2023
Allentown Walk Audit was a Great Success!
Allentown Community Walk Day
August 10, 2023
The Allentown Community Walk Day was a great success! The Walk Day gathering took place at Fountain Park in Allentown on August 10th at 9:30 a.m. More than 50 neighborhood and community partners came out to support the 2023 LV Walk Audit initiative.
A great thank you goes out to: AARP, AmeriCorps, City of Allentown, Community Bike Works, Greater Valley YMCA, Lehigh Valley Active Life, Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Michael Baker International, PA APA-Lehigh Valley/Berks, Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, Ripple Community Inc., Senator Jarrett Coleman’s Office, The Fé Foundation, and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
A special shoutout goes out to Chief Charles Roca and his police officers for attending and supporting the event!
SAVE THE DATE! All who have participated in the LV Walk Audit are invited to the LV Walk Audit Appreciation Breakfast scheduled for Wednesday, November 8th, 2023!
Past Walk Audits
Easton Community Walk Day
- Date: 06/28
- Location: Forks of the Delaware, Easton
- Time: 9:30 a.m.
- People from the following organizations attended: AARP, City of Easton, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission & UWGLV
- 7 walk audits were conducted by participating teams.
Bethlehem Community Walk Day
- Date:7/13
- Location: Sand Island Park, Bethlehem
- Time: 9:30 a.m.
- People from the following organizations attended: AARP, Meals On Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and UWGLV
- 12 walk audits were conducted by participating teams.
LV Walk Audit
An Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley initiative in coordination with
United Way GLV, LV Planning Commission, and AARP PA
About the WALK AUDIT
The Lehigh Valley Walk Audit is an initiative in coordination with United Way GLV, LV Planning Commission, and AARP PA.
The Lehigh Valley Walk Audit will help to determine areas of improvement to support an age-friendly community; increase accessibility; help build transportation and pedestrian infrastructure; connect the D&L Heritage Corridor trailheads to the surrounding communities; engage elected officials, non-profits, businesses, community residents, and others; and is an opportunity for individuals of all ages and all abilities to be involved in and take an active role in building the community they envision.
Thank you to all who came out to the press conference at Catasauqua Park on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Read more…
The LV Planning Commission has identified 50 intersections that pose a hazard to pedestrian and motorist safety. LV Walk Audit teams can choose one of these 50 locations or opt for a location of their choosing.
Build a team – friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. – select a location and a team leader, conduct the audit. Each team member must sign a waiver that indemnifies the partners and allows for the use of their picture. Each team member can work on one or two of the audit sheets or take pictures. The team leader will gather all audit sheets and pictures, complete the summary, and ensure that each team member has signed the waiver. All documents should be submitted to: [email protected].
Some teams are walking right after the press conference. Others will walk at times more convenient for their schedule. And others may choose to participate in one of the LV Walk Audit’s Community Walk Days. These Days will be scheduled over the next few months. Check back here often for updates on times, dates, and places!
On the Age-Friendly LV website, you can learn about available locations and access all the needed forms.
Once the LV Walk Audit is completed, the LV Planning Commission will analyze and map the data and issue a report on the findings.
MORE ABOUT WALK AUDITS
A Walk Audit is often the first step towards policy, system, and environment change which can improve a community for people of all ages.
The AARP Walk Audit Toolkit
The Walk Audit is an extremely versatile tool for walkable community advocates. It can be used to engage the public, build awareness of the importance of walkable design, identify specific pedestrian safety issues, and advance policy and community development goals. Walk Audits can be conducted alone, with a group of other concerned residents to document needed changes, or with public officials who have the power to do something about it.