Walktober pg 3 12-7-17
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The Last Green Valley’s 27th Annual Walktober has come to a close and once again its many volunteers injected the region with benefits ranging from recreational to historic, cultural and economic.
More than 240 walk leaders and numerous other volunteers created a calendar filled with more than 220 unique Walktober Adventures and more than 250 opportunities to explore The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. Walktober is a program of The Last Green Valley, Inc., (TLGV) the non-profit charged with promoting and advocating for the national heritage corridor’s unique resources.
“The passion so many people have The Last Green Valley is truly impressive,” said Lois Bruinooge, executive director of TLGV. “It’s an event that draws visitors from all over New England and beyond and that is directly tied to the dedication of our volunteers.”
Walktober’s attendance numbers are still trickling in, however, it is on track to once again have drawn more than 60,000 people to the national heritage corridor. A recent study of the economic impacts of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, conducted by national consultant Tripp Umbach, show Walktober has been the catalyst for much more.
The study said, “The three-year average total of visitors and tourists to the TLGV NHC region is close to 1.9 million visitors. These visitors spend money in the region, creating a positive ripple effect on the economic structure. Based on the annual average number of visitors to the NHC region and its partner sites, approximately $301 million in economic benefit was supported annually within the region and state through tourism.”
“Walktober was created 27 years ago as an event to show just how special this area is and prove it is more than worthy of designation as a national heritage corridor,” Bruinooge said. “Thanks to our volunteers, the event is not only a showcase, but an economic driver for the region.”
The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor is the last stretch of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl between Boston and Washington, D.C. The Last Green Valley, Inc. works for you in the National Heritage Corridor. Together we can care for it, enjoy it and pass it on! To learn more about the organization, visit thelastgreenvalley.org.