Walk the Villages steps into third year

Sen. Mary Lou Rath's Walk the Villages program is gearing up for year number three in June.

Clarence, Akron, Kenmore, and Williamsville have participated for two years, with last year's program expanding to include Batavia and LeRoy in Genesee County.

"We were so impressed with the number of people who walked last year," said general coordinator Dick Rich. "Roughly 82 percent of those who walked in Williamsville were visitors to the community, providing new customers for local businesses.

He said this year's Walk the Villages wants to give that opportunity to more communities in Western New York.

"We are hopeful that they will realize not only the health but the economic benefits that the Walk the Villages program can provide," Rich said.

The Walk the Villages Committee, which includes representatives from all six communities involved, is looking to expand the program once again, this time across Western New York.

"The past two years have gone so well, that many people from outside of my district have asked how Walk the Villages could run in their towns, so we knew we had to provide them with the opportunity to participate," said Rath, whose state Senate district includes Clarence and Amherst.

"Adding areas outside of my district will allow people to experience all of Western New York, not just their own communities," she said.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development, Rath said she is hopeful that the proposed expansion will increase tourism to all of the "villages" that participate.

"I want to encourage people to continue walking for health and wellness as well as to take time to appreciate what our home and neighboring communities have to offer," she said.

Last year's program ran from June until October, drawing even more walkers than the first year. Local merchants in each community also participated by donating prizes as incentives to not only walk but stop into various stores and businesses along the way.