Metro awarded Kaiser Permanente grant for bike, walk mapping project in Cornelius, Forest Grove & Hillsboro

Kaiser Permanente awarded Metro Regional Travel Options a $75,000 grant to support a new project currently called "Vamanos! Let's explore Cornelius, Forest Gove and Hillsboro by bike and foot."

The goal of the project is to increase awareness of great places to bike and walk among families in Cornelius, Forest Grove and Hillsboro. The project will have a specific focus on connecting with Latino families.

Metro will work closely with an oversight committee of citizens, local governments and non-profit partners to create printed and online neighborhood maps co-developed in Spanish and English focused on meeting the needs of community. The project objectives are as follows:

• Increase the awareness of great places to bike and walk for health, recreation and transportation in the communities of Cornelius, Forest Grove and Hillsboro by creating printed and web-based biking and walking materials in English and Spanish. The printed maps will highlight points of interest, history, commerce and transit stops in the area as well as highlight parks, trails and natural areas. This project will fill the need for both Spanish and English-speaking audiences in the project area.
• Increase awareness of the benefits of walking and biking for transportation and health in Cornelius, Forest Grove and Hillsboro by conducting community outreach, primarily with Latino families. Biking and walking is good for a community because it increases business vitality, livability, safety and physical activity while reducing air pollution, congestion and obesity. Active transportation integrates physical activity into daily life that improves health and contributes to emotional well-being.

 The project will begin winter 2011 and continue for 18 months. Maps will be available for distribution by fall 2012. For more information about the project, please contact Katie Edlin in Metro Regional Travel Options at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 503-813-7575.