Silver City, NM - Chihuahua Hill and the area near Silver High School will be the focus of neighborhood meetings about walking and bicycling in Silver City next week. Gatherings to find out more about the routes and destinations in those areas will be held on Wednesday, October 19.

The Town of Silver City is asking residents of various neighborhoods how to make it easier to get around town without a vehicle. Neighborhood meetings have been held at the library, the recreation center, and at the Red Hot Children's Fiesta. Silver High and Aldo Leopold high school students also have completed surveys and worked on maps to show their favorite destinations and pedestrian and bicycle routes around town.

Two additional informal gatherings will be held Wednesday, October 19, in two additional neighborhoods. Residents of any area are welcome, but neighbors in the two focus areas are especially encouraged to bring their comments and concerns about walking and biking near their homes.

Town Councilor José Ray Jr. has coordinated a meeting at the Senior Center in the southern part of Silver City. Mr. Ray represents that district and has expressed a need for additional pedestrian and bicycling facilities in his district, especially along the Cooper Street corridor. The meeting will be a drop-in gathering from 2:00 to 4:00. Participants will be asked for information about where they would like to safely and conveniently walk or ride bikes in the neighborhood and around town.

From 5:00 to 7:00, that same day, a similar gathering will be held at the Grant County Extension Conference Room at 2610 Silver Street to gather comments from residents about walking and biking in that neighborhood and all of Silver City. The location for this informal gathering was chosen because of its proximity to Silver High School, Gila Regional Medical Center, and the large residential neighborhood around 32^nd Street. Drop in for a few minutes to give your comments about how easy or difficult it might be to walk or ride around town, where you like to go when you do, or what might make it easier for you.

Results of the gatherings being held will drive the future of pedestrian and bicycle routes being planned by the Town of Silver City. Planned routes will also be coordinated with the Safe Routes to School project implemented by Silver Consolidated Schools. Town Councilor Jamie Thomson is coordinator for the schools program and is also an active member of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Routes planning group.

For more information on the pedestrian and bicycle routes or the neighborhood meetings on Wednesday, October 19, at the Senior Center and the Grant County Extension Conference Room, please contact: Jim Coates, Town of Silver City - 575-534-6374 or Michele Giese, NM Dept of Health - 575-538-8573.