New e-book highlights Decorah's efforts to become a more walkable community

Northeast Iowa, including Decorah, is one of nine areas of the country being highlighted in a new e-book about walkable communities.

"America's Walking Renaissance," written by Jay Walljasper, Kate Kraft and Heidi Simon of America Walks, highlights Decorah, Postville, West Union and Clermont/Elgin in its section on Northeast Iowa.

"America's Walking Renaissance" takes a look at walkable cities of all shapes and sizes, providing resources and information on the growing walking movement. The book highlights the drive to create more walkable places and to encourage more people to walk.

In the section on Northeast Iowa, the e-book advises readers to not let the perception of distance in rural communities to keep people from walking.  "People don't realize how close the school or store really is until you get them walking and they can see for themselves," the e-book quotes Safe Routes to School coordinator Ashley Christensen as saying.

Said NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative Luther College coordinator Ann Mansfield, "We hope this serves as a catalyst for expanded conversations in our communities regarding the broad health and well-being benefits of walking and planning to make all of our communities walkable for northeast Iowans."

To download a free copy of the book, visit http://americawalks.org/americas-walking-renaissance/