In the spirit of the neighborhood watch, the Westerville B&W is a little safer every day thanks to the volunteer efforts of the Westerville Path Watch team.
These volunteers don their safety vests on a daily basis and traverse nearly 30 miles of pathways to be an extra set of eyes and ears on the recreational path system.
Path Watch was implemented in 2010 as a cooperative effort between the Westerville Parks and Recreation Department and Division of Police. With miles of pathways to maintain and patrol, volunteers were enlisted with the help of residents to make the network as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Walkers, runners and cyclists completed 10 hours of training on basic crime prevention, basic bicycle repair, first aid and CPR. They were also trained to recognize maintenance issues to help staff quickly address issues or needed repairs. Volunteers carry identification badges, extra trail maps and reward coupons for children they spot wearing bike helmets.
Volunteers track the routes they monitor and the number of hours they are on patrol, committed to a minimum of 40 hours of service a year. From July through December, the majority of the miles within the recreational path system are being monitored on a weekly basis. In 2013 alone, 27 Path Watch volunteers logged more than 1,180 hours of service.
Residents interested in becoming Path Watch volunteers must attend one of several training sessions scheduled at various times throughout the year. For more information, please email parksandrec@westerville.org.
