The problem

          Downtown Cynthiana, KY is an up-and-coming rural community with flourishing tourism, plentiful growth of locally owned businesses, improving and enhancing facilities, sidewalks, and increasing walkability. An interest survey was administered through the Family & Consumer Sciences newsletter at the start of 2022 to gage the interest of community members for physical activity opportunities. Survey results indicated a strong need for increased exercise opportunities with 95% of respondents agreeing that more options were needed and 80% indicating they would attend physical activity opportunities. “This is so needed for Harrison County,” said one respondent. Conversations with clientele throughout other programs leading up to the Urban Hikes continued to confirm the interest level for movement activities. Community support for local businesses and events are crucial for the success of growth and sustainability of local equity. In a small town, with revitalization momentum, scheduled events encouraging support of local businesses and themes are needed for community member participation.

The educational program response

          Harrison County FCS saw the paved areas from downtown Cynthiana as an excellent opportunity for community members to incorporate physical activity through leisurely walks. Further, partnering with the community to capitalize on the unique fall theme as well as support local businesses have made walking challenges fun and captivating for participants.  Skeleton Tracks through Urban Hikes were implemented Fall of 2022 to encourage group fitness while incorporating the local tourism theme of skeletons. Four walks around town were identified and mapped out for participants to complete on their own or with the scheduled group hikes. The routes took participants different paths and past some of the county’s skeleton displays. Later, the Coffee Crawl was implemented in Spring 2023 as a May walking challenge. Each hike ended at a locally owned restaurant where coffee was sold, and participants were encouraged to support the local business with purchases from the business. Anyone who participated in walks was entered for a chance to win prizes.

The participants/target audience

          Both Urban Hike challenges were open to anyone of all ages and advertised through the Harrison County Family & Consumer Sciences newsletter, the FCS mini blast sent home with every preschool-5^th grader, social media, and the local radio. Over 30 individuals participated in the Skeleton Tracks walking challenge. Over 40 individuals participated in the Coffee Crawl. Ages ranged from 5-84 and included both males and females, and blacks and whites.

Other partners (if applicable)

          Collaboration and partnerships occurred with Nonprofit Recreation Board Director, Jackie, to develop and map out urban hikes for both challenges. Additionally, Mainstreet Coordinator, Stephanie, was contacted for best practices to utilize with local businesses incorporated with the Coffee Crawl. This conversation led to the idea of having each business identify a walker’s special for anyone who completed the walk and then stopped in the business to purchase products. Lastly, was the collaboration with each local business participating in the Coffee Crawl. Five local businesses were selected because coffee is on their menu. FCS Agent, Shelley stopped by each restaurant to talk to each business owner/managers and explain the program. She collected the walker’s specials to record on participant forms and had each business choose which day of the five days offered the business preferred the scheduled hike to occur. On the day chosen, businesses were told to expect a large group of walkers in their store at the end of the hike. Lastly, FCS agent, Shelley contacted each store a couple days prior to the walk as a curtesy reminder.

Program impact or participant response

          During the October Urban Hikes challenge month, participants raved about the event, shared with friends, and continued scheduled walks with participants after the monthly walking challenge ended. “This is such a great idea and super fun!” “These walks are a workout!” Several asked if there would be other future walking programs. Therefore, Coffee Crawl was implemented for the spring which brought back returning walkers in addition to new participants. Each of the scheduled walks during the Coffee Crawl had larger participation than the earlier Skeleton Tracks walking challenge. 

          A local gym owner has shared her excitement about these community walking challenges with her gym members. Taking a stack of participant forms for both walking challenges and promoting at her business, has brought a wave of walkers to each scheduled hike. “We love all these physical activity opportunities! We will be at future ones too,” said gym business owner. Many participants had never been in one or more of the local restaurants with the Coffee Crawl and therefore tried something new. Restaurant owners/managers were appreciative and enthusiastic about the exposure to new customers.  

          The visibility of this program was widespread. Not only did this program make it in the hands of nearly 430 households through direct FCS newsletter mailings from the extension office, but the newsletter was also distributed to 450 school staff, administrators, and employees at every school, Community Action, Board of Education, and Family Resource Office. Furthermore, over 1200 FCS mini blast copies were sent home with pre-K through fifth grade students to share with the adults in their families. The newsletter also goes to a large email distribution including the local Maysville Community College, Cynthiana Mainstreet, Chamber, Lions Club, and Public Library. All promotional materials are uploaded to the Harrison County Family & Consumer Sciences Facebook page as well as marketed over the local radio station. Pictures of weekly walks were posted on the Harrison County Family & Consumer Sciences Facebook page as well as notifications of the upcoming walks which totaled 2465 views. This does not account for the views from posts made by many participants who took their own pictures and shared on personal Facebook pages.