The Hutchinson Community Foundation is hosting Mark Fenton, national public health, planning and transportation consultant. He serves as an adjunct professor at Tufts University and the former host of the ‘America’s Walking’ series on public television. Mark speaks nationally and internationally on creating more livable, sustainable and successful cities and towns. He frequently consults with public health, planning, and engineering agencies on creating more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly communities. More information about Mark and his work is available at www.markfenton.com

Mark’s schedule in Reno County is listed below. He is pleased to speak to the media at and between events. These events are open to the public as well. Online registration (www.hutchcf.org – Click on Grants and Initiatives) is required for the Tuesday afternoon Summit at the Cosmosphere.

Monday, April 16

1:30 p-m – meet at Haven City Offices for brief walk audit – Jessica Hoskinson, Haven Wellness Center Board Member and Reno County Health Educator; Roy Lanning, Haven Economic Development President, and Allen Blake, City Administrator, plan to be there.

2:30 p-m – meet at Buhler City Offices for brief walk audit – Janet Burr, Director of Economic Development and Daniel Friesen, Mayor, plan to be there.

Tuesday April 17

Fenton will observe the traffic and pedestrian patterns at two Hutchinson elementary schools between 7 and 8 a-m.

McCandless – 700 N. Baker
Wiley – 900 W. 21st

9:30 a-m – Interested persons can meet Mark at the Metropolitan Coffee House – 17th & Lorraine – and join him on a walk audit of this area of town. Savanah Benedick, City Planner, is hosting this event.

12:00-4:30 p-m – Community Health Summit (on line registration required) at the Kansas Cosmosphere

Mark will provide a keynote at approximately 12:30 – Key principles of healthy community design

1:45-2:45 pm Mark will lead participants in a ‘Walkabout’ to demonstrate use of a walk audit as an engagement tool and to observe typical challenges, opportunities in the area near the Cosmosphere

2:45-3:30 p-m Panel discussion moderated by Mark

Invited participants – Julie Graves, Human Resource Director – Mennonite Friendship Communities

Nancy Scott, Director of Planning & Development, City of Hutchinson
John Deardoff, Hutchinson City Manager
Mark Trotman, Eagle Radio Market Manager
Bailey Stiggins, Community Development, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
Sgt. Brian Hirt, Traffic Safety, Hutchinson Police Department

3:30-3:55 p-m – Small group work. Participants at community tables, discuss specific action ideas for their area
3:55-4:20 p-m – Lightning report out; best ideas from each group shared and discussed.
4:20-4:30 p-m – Summit conclusion

Scheduled to start between 4:30-5 p-m – ‘Bike about’ with members of Vitality Team.

Wednesday April 18

Chamber of Commerce Breakfast

Mark will provide keynote presentation at approximately 7:30 a-m at the Ramada Inn

Shortly after 8 a-m – interested persons are invited to stay and hear Mark’s recommendations/impressions following his time in Hutchinson/Reno County