The Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program that reviews communities to determine levels of recognition and commitment. A Walk Friendly Community is a city or town that has demonstrated a commitment to improving and sustaining a safe walking environment through policies and planning.
Arlington, Virginia was one of four communities nationwide to be designated as a Gold Level Walk Friendly Community in 2010, the first year of the initiative. Arlington has successfully maintained Gold Level recognition after nearly 10 years and is currently proud to be one of 15 communities to be honored nationwide as Gold Level. The County's success is a combined effort of its outstanding transit-oriented planning, innovative transportation demand management strategies, and through education and outreach to its residents and employers through events like National Walking Day, WalkArlington’s Walkabout maps, and Our Shared Street pop-up events.
Walkabouts are self-guided walking tours that you can explore at your own convenience. Arlington has 25 walkabout maps covering different urban villages from quaint neighborhoods and parks to city streets. Each walkabout map lists the distance and type of terrain and a brief description of the neighborhood. Some of the most popular walkabouts are:
Order Walkabouts brochures online from our website for free. Which walkabout are you going to explore?
Editor's Note: This blog was published in August 2015 and has been republished with new information written by Christy Lee.
Photo Credit: Sam Kittner/Kittner.com for Arlington Transportation Partners