Two communities have the “right stuff” of community infrastructure & support plus local government involvement for designation
Arlington, VA – The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is pleased to announce and welcome Rochester, MN and Sioux Falls, SD as newly designated Runner Friendly Communities® for summer 2021.
Every five years, a Runner Friendly Community must work with the RRCA to ensure it continues to meet our expectations for the designation. The following communities have successfully renewed their Runner Friendly Community designation for another five years: Ann Arbor, MI and Fredericksburg, VA.
Runner Friendly Communities have shown that they meet the program’s criteria, which includes community infrastructure, community support and local government support for running. Each community has shown they have an infrastructure that can foster physical activity in a safe environment. They have a proven track record that organizations and businesses work together to promote running as a healthy exercise and sport, with the most important criteria being positive relationships between the running community and their local government.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the important role communities play in making running accessible for citizens,” said Jean Knaack, RRCA Executive Director. “The references from city and state government leaders for this round of Runner Friendly Communities demonstrates the impact of positive relationships between runners and local officials.”
The goal of the RRCA’s Runner Friendly Community program is to shine a national spotlight on communities that standout as runner-friendly and provide incentives and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner-friendly communities. Runner Friendly Communities can increase the quality of life; improve physical activity for residents; and provide for increased economic impact for the community.