MEDIA RELEASE: Montgomery County to Host ‘Walk and Roll to School Day’ on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Brooke Grove Elementary School in Olney

For Immediate Release: Friday, September 29, 2023

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, which encourages students who have a safe path and live near their elementary school to walk to school, will join in the national recognition of “Walk and Roll to School Day” on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Most County elementary schools will participate, with a special event starting at 8:15 a.m. that day at Brooke Grove Elementary School in Olney.

Brooke Grove Elementary School is located at 2700 Spartan Road in Olney.

The event in Olney will begin with a short group walk with students from two different locations at 8:15 a.m.:

• Prince Philip Drive and Spartan Drive
• Old Baltimore Road and Fort William Drive 

The walking groups, led by MCDOT’s Zeal the Safety Zebra and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Sparky the Fire and Rescue Dog, will meet at the front of Brooke Grove Elementary School. The event will commence with fanfare including music, balloons, giveaways, police officers, firefighters and firetrucks. Students will be singing and carrying signs.

Walk and Roll to School Day is an international event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, it has become part of a movement for year-round, safe routes to school and a celebration each October. This year, thousands of schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will participate.

EVENT:         Celebrating National Walk and Roll to School Day

DATE:           Wednesday, Oct. 4

TIME:            Event will be set up by 8 a.m. with the student walks around the school beginning at 8:15 a.m.. Student involvement in front of the
                      school primarily between 8:30- 9:15 a.m.

LOCATION:   Brooke Grove Elementary School, 2700 Spartan Road, Olney

WHO:   

• Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz 
• Montgomery County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke 
• MCDOT Acting Deputy Director of Policy Maricela Cordova
• County Vision Zero Coordinator Wade Holland
• Firefighters from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service
• Officers from the Montgomery County Police
• Officers from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Park Police
• MCDOT’s Zeal the Safety Zebra
• Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Sparky the Fire and Rescue Dog

PHOTO OP:   Attendees will be available for interviews. Group pictures will be arranged. There will be a large display, music and special appearances from Zeal, the Traffic Safety Zebra and Sparky the Fire and Rescue Dog.

Recording of Zeal the Zebra and Sparky the Fire and Rescue Dog interacting with school-age children is welcome.

Release ID: 23-106
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282