Retro Metro Kids to hold kickoff event

Posted
By Annie Sewell

Special to The SUN

Retro Metro Kids, the local rendition of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, is having a kickoff event at Pagosa Springs Elementary School the morning of Monday, March 30.

The event, which is entitled “Walkin’ Back To School,” entails busing the elementary school students and staff to the high school at approximately 9 a.m. to get a “sneak peek” at the high school production of “Aladdin.” Then, after a short rally sponsored by the Retro Metro Kids program coordinators, the students, staff and anyone else interested in participating will make the short walk back to the elementary school.

At this inaugural event, every elementary school student will receive a Retro Metro Kids T-shirt which gives them automatic “Team Retro Metro Kids” status. Participation in the event also makes each student eligible for entry into the Retro Metro Kids “Walkin’, Runnin’ and Rollin’ Through Summer” event series.

Retro Metro Kids is the result of a $5,000 CDOT grant awarded to Archuleta School District last summer for the purpose of establishing a local SRTS program and community coalition. The program, officially recognized as “Retro Metro Kids, Bring Back ‘Uphill Both Ways’ to School,” is led by volunteer Annie Sewell. The coalition also includes key members from a broad scope of local entities.

One of the primary program goals is to develop a thoughtfully connected network of in-town trails that will provide safe routes for children to walk and ride bikes to and from school. Another main focus of Retro Metro Kids is to enhance the mobility and safety of all pedestrians and cyclists in Pagosa Springs.

To learn about getting involved, sponsoring, donating and more about the program, please visit www.retrometrokids.com or www.facebook.com/retrometrokids.