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Partner Spotlight:
JumpIn for Healthy Kids
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This month, ROW recognizes Jump IN for Healthy Kids for working with our waterways to fulfill its mission of creating healthy places, neighborhoods, and communities. Jump IN launched in 2014 as the backbone of a collective impact initiative. Since then it has worked to create real opportunities for Indianapolis' families to make healthy choices that promote their health, vitality, and well-being, including access to opportunities to play and be active.
One way Jump IN works to fulfill its agenda and create meaningful opportunities in the community is through its work on the ROW Healthy Connections Element Committee. Jump IN and Healthy Connections are a natural fit, as the committee works to promote, engage, and create access to Indianapolis's waterways while also fostering health and wellbeing. Jump IN's Communications Director, Megan McKinney Cooper, serves as the Healthy Connections co-chair and works to dovetail the shared goals of ROW and Jump IN.
Healthy Connection's latest project, the #IndyWaterwaysChallenge is a great example of Jump IN and ROW's complementary visions working together to achieve a common agenda. Using ROW'S Exploration and Celebration Guide, the #IndyWaterwaysChallenge, which is running now through October 31, encourages people to get outside and visit six of Indianapolis' waterway communities. Whether you walk, bike, or paddle, the challenge both reconnects residents to the city's waterways and introduces people to the environments they can go to enjoy physical activity in any season.
Thank you, Jump IN for Healthy Kids for working alongside ROW engaging the community, and promoting healthy habits that benefit Indianapolis's citizens, neighbors, and waterway communities.
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Volunteer Spotlight:
Dan Lake
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This month, ROW recognizes Dan Lake for his contributions to the Pogue's Run Waterway Committee. Previously the Waterway Liaison and currently Co-Chair, Lake is always stepping up to share his time, talent, and passion for Pogue's Run.
A resident of Indianapolis' Holy Cross neighborhood, Dan joined the Pogue's Run Committee in September 2019 and became co-chair in February 2021. Lake's love of cycling and knowledge of Pogue's Run has been an asset to the committee. When the pandemic made the annual waterway bike tour impossible, Lake went to work on a self-guided Pogue's Run Bike & Walk Route map, putting in countless hours to determine a route, researching the history behind Pogue Run's natural and cultural history, and ultimately highlighting 32 stops from the Pogue's Run Tunnel to the Pogue's Run Art & Nature Park and converting it to the digital PocketSights mobile app.
Lake's passion for Pogue's and dedication also made way when Big Car Collective put out a call for mobile workshops for the national Walk/Bike/Places Conference. Lake jumped on the opportunity to showcase Pogue's Run and worked with a dedicated group of volunteers to create a 3-hour bike tour for an international audience. Lake ensured the route (subject to daily construction changes), community speakers and hosts, and volunteers were all prepared for the workshop. In the end, the tour provided an expansive, fun and informative six mile loop of the natural and cultural history of Pogue's Run, its businesses, and its community-led efforts. A special thank you to all of the partners and businesses who helped make this day possible, including Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie, Pathway Over Pogue's, Near Eastside Area Renewal (NEAR), Amelia's, Centerpoint Brewing, Lick's Ice Cream, SoChatti, Smoking Goose, Stomping Ground, RAD Brewing, and 8th Day Distillery.
Thank you, Dan Lake, for your many, many contributions to the Pogue's Run Waterway.
Photos: Top, Dan Lake (center) with volunteers Tessie (left) and Kim ball (right) Lloyd Jones during the June 17 Walk/ Bike/ Places Mobile Workshop; Bottom, Dan presents information about Fletcher Park in Windsor Park at the Walk/ Bike/ Places conference.
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ROW is heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Patrick Mack after a year-long battle with cancer. Pat worked closely with our waterways to make their sculptural dreams come true. Pat's many works can be found all over Indianapolis, including along Pleasant Run and along the Urban Wilderness Trail. We send deep, sincere condolences to the family, and especially to Jake, his son. Pat will be missed and leave a legacy of his work in our community. 
