Nelson puts best foot forward on walking

Nelson has been named winner of the Golden Foot Award for Top Commitment to Walking by a New Zealand Organisation.

The Awards are run by Living Streets Aotearoa, a Government led organisation that supports the development of walking initiatives across the country. Wellington Regional Council chair Fran Wilde presented the award in a ceremony in Wellington last night prior to the National Walking Conference.

Thirty-three nominations were submitted for the awards, which honour innovative new walking facilities, highlighting best practice and rewarding commitment to walking. The Awards are for private companies, public organisations, and community organisations.

Nelson City Council Chief Executive Keith Marshall is delighted with the win. “It’s wonderful to be acknowledged at a national level for our work,” he says. “Nelson has been committed to making walking, and cycling for that matter, a safe and easy choice for many years. So we have a real head start on many other places in terms of our investment in infrastructure, policy and community support.”

Keith says it is not the first time Nelson has been recognised as a leader in active transport, having previously picked up three cycle friendly awards and he reflects on the last few month’s results.

“It has been a period of highs and lows for active transport. The Nelson Cycle Trust receiving $2.6 million for the regions two cycle trails goes a long way to making up for the disappointment felt after NZTA overlooked Nelson’s Model Community funding application. We will continue to promote Nelson as a leader in active transport and it seems others continue to agree,” Mr Marshall says.