Photo Coverage: NYC PARKS JOINS HARLEM HOSPITAL CENTER TO DEDICATE WALK IT OUT! TRAIL AT MARCUS GARVEY PARK

NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White today joined Denise C. Soares RN, MA Senior Vice President, Generations+/Northern Manhattan Health Network; Dr. Olajide Williams of Harlem Hospital Center; Walk It Out! Program Coordinators Monique Hedmann and Amparo Abel-Bey; Commanding Officer of the 25th Police Precinct Tom Harnisch; Valerie Jo Bradley of the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance; Syderia Chresfield of the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association; and Walk It Out! participants to dedicate a new designated walking trail with banners and a bench at Marcus Garvey Park.

"NYC Parks is pleased to partner with Harlem Hospital Center in dedicating the Walk It Out! Trail at Marcus Garvey Park," said NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White. "Through the simple act of walking, New Yorkers can lead healthier lives. Through distance markers, health tips and inspirational messages, these new banners will inspire our community to keep moving forward while staying physically active and enjoying the fresh air."

"Harlem Hospital Center is honored to partner with NYC Parks in dedicating the Walk it Out! Trail at Marcus Garvey Park," said Denise C. Soares RN, MA Senior Vice President, Generations+/Northern Manhattan Health Network. "The purpose of Walk it Out!, is to enhance access to neighborhood spaces for physical activity and to develop informational outreach events to promote health holistically and prevent disease and illness among the village elders of Harlem. This trail, with distance markers, health tips and inspirational messages is another tool to assist in the fight against disease within the Harlem community."

Walk It Out! is a program run through the Harlem Hospital Center with the goal of increasing physical activity among older adults. Volunteer-led walking clubs meet at parks throughout Harlem, engaging the community in physical activity to help lead healthier lives.

At Marcus Garvey Park, NYC Parks installed eight banners and a bench along the park's perimeter, creating a designated walking trail. The banners indicate distance markers, health tips, and inspirational messages.

Funding for the banners and bench were secured by Harlem Hospital Center through a Healthy Eating and Active Living by Design grant from the New York State Department of Health, which funds the Walk It Out! program at Harlem Hospital Center.

Walk It Out! was implemented in partnership with NYC Parks, NYC Aging, New York Road Runners, Harlem senior citizen centers, AARP, faith based organizations, and senior advocacy groups in Harlem. Walk It Out! has been walking in Marcus Garvey Park three days a week since the program began in the spring of 2010.