PHC
Welcome to Bike/Walk Bourbon County, a site to help distribute information and build community support for a more “walkable” and “bike-friendly” Bourbon County.
What Are We Trying to Accomplish?
In short- a healthier community where people of every age and ability can enjoy bicycling and walking as a lifelong activity and as a means to better health. We believe the first step is to develop a shared vision and an agreed upon plan for moving forward.
To that end, Bike/Walk Bourbon County is developing a county-wide Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan.
To email comments and/or suggestions regarding the Master Plan, please click here.
What Will The Plan Address?
The plan will recommend a network of bike routes, trails and sidewalks as well as strategies to encourage more people to walk and bike for health, transportation and recreation. This includes:
- Opportunities for bicycle routes on low traffic streets, bike lanes on busy streets and off-road trails.
- Locations where new or improved sidewalks are needed to increase access to schools, parks, shopping and other destinations.
- Strategies to promote bicycling and walking and to inform people how to do so safely
Why Develop A Plan?
- Make it easy, enjoyable and safe for people to bike and walk in Bourbon County
- Improve access for children, seniors, people with disabilities and those who do not drive
- Encourage active and health lifestyles
- Increase recreational opportunities
- Spur tourism and economic development
- Better connect our community
Who Will Use The Plan?
Everyone. Master plans provide a formalized and agreed-upon long-term vision for a community and include priorities and strategies for achieving that vision. A master plan should be used by local governments, planning commissions, developers, road builders, health officials, citizens and bicycling & walking advocates to guide local decision making, project development and outreach efforts.
How Do I Get Involved?
We need your help. The plan must be a reflection of our community values, desires and dreams and the residents who reside here. In order to achieve this, we need your input and your ideas. Please consider getting involved by:
Attending a public meeting:
Tuesday, September 27
5:30-6:30pm
First Christian Church Fellowship Hall
911 High Street in Paris
The project team will begin a presentation at 5:30 to introduce community members to the project followed by a discussion on future goals for bicycling and walking in Bourbon County. Community members will be asked to review maps to identify problem areas and offer suggestions for creating a more walkable and bike-friendly community in their specific neighborhoods.
Your suggestions will be used to develop the master plan and to propose priorities for improvements in the coming years. The team will present a draft of the plan and its recommendations at a second community meeting later this year.
Complete a survey: Coming soon!
What Is Our Timeframe?
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan for Bourbon County will be developed during the summer and fall of 2011. Our goal is for the Plan to be adopted by local authorities by 2012.
Who Are We?
Bike Walk Bourbon County is a project of the Pioneering Healthier Communities Program (PHC) which seeks to inspire others and provide opportunities for a nurturing, healthy environment and lifestyle through policy and environmental changes. PHC’s primary focus is on reducing childhood obesity rates that have reached epidemic status throughout the United States and in Bourbon County.
The PHC is supported through the Paris-Bourbon County YMCA and is funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. Our team is comprised of individuals, businesses and local governments of Paris and Bourbon County. Our partners include the Bourbon Community Hospital, Paris-Bourbon County YMCA, Paris Independent and Bourbon County Schools, Bourbon County Health Department, UK Extension Office, City of Paris, Bourbon County Fiscal Court and other local volunteers.