All are invited to join the Tour de Brockport

The Tour de Brockport is a scavenger hunt combined with a heart-healthy stroll. Participants will gather clues from merchants, make their way around the village and SUNY campus, all while taking in the scenery of historic Brockport, interacting with their neighbors, downtown merchants and various sites on the college campus. And to top it off, there is a chance to win prizes.

The September 18 event is sponsored by the Village of Brockport's Walk! Bike! Action Committee.

Marilyn Colby, coordinator of the event, said that during a May 2003 workshop hosted by Mayor Josephine Matela, the idea was tossed about for ways to create a walkable community. The event was sponsored by the National Center for Bicycling and Walking and the Genesee Transportation Council and from it sprang Brockport's own walk-able action committee headed by Ray and Ute Duncan. "One of the ways I thought about to create a walkable community was to have a scavenger hunt in which people could explore the village stores using clues to find items in the stores," Colby said. "I then worked on an outreach sub-committee with village residents and SUNY students and faculty on making it happen."

The first Tour de Brockport saw 46 merchants and 91 walkers participate. Individuals participating can begin the scavenger hunt at the college mall (flagpole area) or Sagawa Park in the village (Main Street near Erie Street). Participants will pick up a clue sheet and proceed to visit the stores and college sites in search of answers to various questions. An example of a clue is, "What bagel sandwich costs $1.75?"

This year, Colby is working with Diane LaMonica and the Brockport Student Government Vice President Michael Pusateri to pull the event together. Merchants from the north side of the canal have also been added.

Getting people out and into the stores of the local merchants is an important part of the Tour but getting individuals to be active is even more important. "Being active is more important than being inactive," Colby said. "We have an eternity to be inactive."

Colby said getting students, newcomers and long-time residents involved is what the group is striving for. "We want everyone to feel and understand that Brockport is their home," she said. "Plus, the Tour is a way to show people that one can become independent of their automobile and that most everything in the village is within walking distance of everything else."

Matela said she is very supportive of the tour. "I think it's a wonderful event and demonstrates the collaboration between the village and the college," she said.

There will be refreshments, prizes and raffles in Sagawa Park following the scavenger hunt which runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Prizes are awarded by a drawing from the clue sheets deposited by the hunters. For information on the Tour de Brockport contact Colby at 637-2014 or mcolby@brockport.edu.