Dallas Center Girl Scout Adrianna Jimenez, 14, has proposed erecting six signs along the Raccoon River Valley Trail to mark the waypoints of a 10,000 Steps to Wellness walk.
Jimenez made a presentation of her Girl Scout Bronze Project at the February meeting of the Dallas County Conservation Board, which then voted to approve her proposal.
The Dallas Center-Grimes eighth grader was joined at the meeting by her parents, Sunnie Jimenez and Quebin Jimenez, and her two younger brothers, Orlando, 10, and Quentin, 7.
The Dallas Center Parks and Recreation Department has also approved the project, Jimenez said.
“The only issue with that is there’s not enough miles,” she said, “so it would be more difficult and confusing for users.”
The 10,000-step course would start at the north end of Dallas Center and proceed northward at 1,000-step intervals. At 5,000 steps, the walker turns around and returns to the start in order to attain 10,000 steps.
Jimenez estimated the cost for the project at about $1,000 for the six signs, which she would fundraise to collect, such as with Girl Scout Cookie sales.
The long-term goal — Girl Scout Gold Project — would see the 10,000-steps signs in all the towns in Dallas County, she said.
The signs would be similar to those seen in communities along the High Trestle Trail. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation received a Wellness Grant for $150,000 from the Wellmark Foundation in 2008 to enhance the High Trestle Trail with mile markers indicating 10,000 steps from each community.
