| October is officially Walk & Roll Month, and Tristan Hill from the City of Springdale read the proclamation to get things rolling on Oct. 8.
“In Springdale, Arkansas, we urge you to observe this month by being watchful for biking and walking students, encouraging the children with walking and rolling to school, and taking advantage of the trails for fun and the health of the whole family,” said Hill, the city’s active transportation coordinator.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation partnered with Pedal It Forward, Springdale Active Transportation, Springdale Police, and Harp and Linda Childers Knapp elementary schools to host the Walk & Roll event. It was the second Walk & Roll event in 2026, and the third since UAMS began working with the Springdale School District last year.
“Walk & Roll brings students, families, educators, and community partners together to walk or bike to school, promoting physical activity and community connections,” said UAMS community health worker Beck Rodriguez.
The third Walk & Roll was a success, bringing together 122 students, 12 parents, and 12 teachers. UAMS provided 40 students with helmets.
“These students can now use their helmets whenever they ride their bikes, promoting safer bicycling habits beyond the event,” UAMS community health worker Sebastia Llull said. “Parents are enthusiastic about volunteering with the organization at the next event, and they and their children are encouraged to go to school walking or riding a bike.”
Participants met at the intersection of Stradford Avenue and Hidden Lake Street, then headed in opposite directions to their elementary schools. The Springdale Police Department kept roads clear, ensuring safe roads for riders.
“The event encouraged students to walk and bike to school in a safe, supervised environment while learning how to navigate their route safely,” Rodriguez said.
This was the first time Knapp Elementary joined the event, and students loved getting to bike, walk, scoot, or even roller-skate to school. Principal Mendi Hayter said students immediately wanted to know when they could do it again.
“Kids are already asking for another opportunity to walk and roll to school,” Hayter said. “And one student was really trying to narrow down when are we are going to do this again. I told him we would have to get it on the calendar.”
Aside from having fun, Hayter wants to set a good example for her students and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.
“It’s important to us at Knapp Elementary to limit the time that students spend on screens,” she said. “Childhood health and being physically active is one of the things that we really value, and Walk & Roll was a perfect opportunity for the adults to model that and to do that alongside our students.”
