Fredericksburg recognized as runner-friendly community

The City of Fredericksburg has again been recognized as a wonderful place for runners.

The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) recently announced that Fredericksburg’s status as a “Runner Friendly Community” has been extended for another five years.

Every five years, a Runner Friendly Community must work with the RRCA to ensure it continues to meet the organization’s expectations for the designation.

Runner Friendly Communities have shown they meet the program’s criteria, which includes community infrastructure, community support and local government support for running. Each community has shown it has 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 stand out as runner-friendly and provide incentives and ideas for communities to work toward becoming runner-friendly. Runner Friendly Communities can increase the quality of life; improve physical activity for residents; and provide for increased economic impact for the community.

Among the runner-friendly community infrastructure that the RRCA looks for are:

• Networks of well-maintained and well-lit sidewalks, multi-use trails, paths, share lanes and other pedestrian networks that allow a runner to complete 3-10 miles of distance, either continuously in one direction or through a loop course, before the network completely ends
• Vehicle traffic control at intersections (stop signs, clearly marked crosswalks, etc.)
• A running track that is maintained, well lit, and open to the public for as many hours as possible
• Water fountains, bathrooms and parking along a trail or pedestrian network

We are proud to have again received this runner-friendly designation!