Downtown On the Go and the American Heart Association, in partnership with Metro Parks Tacoma, are coming together to host a walking event next week in celebration of National Walking Day.

The event, which will be held on Weds., April 3, will kick-off Downtown On the Go’s 2013 Walk Tacoma series. Participants will enjoy a garden walk through Wright Park and the Conservatory led by Urban Forester Kathy Sutalo and Natural Resource Coordinator Mary Anderson. They will also learn about the many historic trees that were planted in the 1890’s, as well as the beautiful plants in the perennial beds and borders, and the tropical plants inside the W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. The April 3 walk, sponsored by Doyle’s Public House, will begin at the south side of Wright Park by the lion sculptures at noon. Walkers will be able to visit booths from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. to learn more about healthy lifestyles, healthy commutes, and other walking events. The first 100 walk participants will receive a swag bag, and all participants who walk, bike, or take the bus to the event will be eligible for additional prizes. There is no pre-registration necessary.

The Walk Tacoma 2013 series is an eight-event walking series held on the first and third Wednesdays between April and August. The fun, themed walks, now in their fourth year, encourage downtown employees and residents to exercise and enjoy the outdoors by discovering the different walking routes and parks in downtown Tacoma. The walks are scheduled at the lunch hour and just after work to encourage downtown employees to walk during their workday, whether it is to and from work or at a lunch break.

Walking maps of the routes are available at no cost at Downtown On the Go, located at 950 Pacific Ave., Suite 300, at many downtown businesses, or by contacting Downtown On the Go Coordinator Meagan Kula at (253) 682-1734 or dotg@tacomachamber.org.

More information is available online at downtownonthego.org.