The public is invited to celebrate the official opening of Bowling Green’s new Welcome Center Park and the 2010 launch of ‘Walktober’ on Sunday, October 3rd at 2:00 p.m. The afternoon event will feature fun for the entire family and is jointly sponsored by the Bowling Green Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Pike County Health Department, Home Care, & Hospice.

 “We are excited to partner with our health department to encourage family health and wellbeing.  By launching “Walktober” in conjunction with the ribbon cutting of this new park-like setting we are hoping to highlight its benefits for residents.  The Welcome Center Park is designed to offer visitors and our community a peaceful environment and walking trail to enjoy. Although our Convention and Visitor’s Bureau members aspire to eventually build a Visitor’s Center on the property, we really want to encourage use of the park – located just east of the Dairy Queen and WalMart – as a convenient, attractive and healthy place for travelers to rest and for community members to walk,” Margie Vogel, President of the Bowling Green Convention and Visitor’s Bureau remarked.

Festivities on Sunday, October 3rd will begin at 2:00 p.m. with games for children coordinated by staff from the Twin Pike Family YMCA and The Learning Center.  During the afternoon Ambassadors from the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce will join community leaders and Bowling Green City officials in a ribbon-cutting to symbolically dedicate the Welcome Center Park and its use to the health of the community and its residents. As the ribbon is cut, attendees will be invited to take their first “Walktober” lap around the walking paths. 

“Walktober”, sponsored by the Pike County Health Department, Home Care & Hospice, will offer rewards and incentives for individuals and families who walk and achieve their personal walking goals during October. The first 100 Walktober participants will receive a free pedometer after formally committing to participation in this month-long walking promotion.  To encourage participation in this healthy fitness promotion, Praire’s Edge, a BG business which features a corn maze, hay rides and fall children’s activities beginning in October and is located only a short distance from the new Welcome Center park, will offer those signing up to participate in Walktober half off their corn maze ticket price. The “Walktober” launch event will also feature the health department’s Brett Dockery, Certified Athletic Trainer, who will highlight the virtues of regular exercise as a part of a healthy lifestyle for those interested.  

In preparation for “Walktober” and the encouragement of ongoing walking by area residents, the City of Bowling Green is currently developing a signage program at the City Park walking trails and as part of the new Welcome Center Park walking trail to convey distances associated with various walking paths.  

The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau board includes community leaders who are charged with administering the City’s hotel and motel tax, a surcharge paid by those staying overnight in Bowling Green hotels. Proceeds from the tax are used to encourage visitors and tourists to enjoy the attractions in Bowling Green.  In addition to developing and maintaining the Welcome Center Park and planning for a future Visitor’s Center, they also use the funds to promote the Chamber’s Heritage Festival, maintain the Welcome to Bowling Green sign at the south entrance to the community, and maintain a website which enables visitors to learn about the community.