In 2017, Norfolk activist Erik DeSean Barrett went for his first walk along the Elizabeth River Trail. At the time, the City of Norfolk was working on major upgrades to Eastern section of Norfolk while he was lobbying the City to establish a Community Walking Center.
“Some of us only saw a few economic ways for many in our community to exit poverty,” he said. “One of those avenues was to join the military, which has a physical fitness exam that many could not pass.”
It was then that he made a connection between the Trail and a culture that focused on the importance of physical health. And Hey, Let’s Walk was born.
This Saturday, Hey Let’s Walk VII will take place at Dominion Tower and the Elizabeth River Trail at Waterside. The event is a hybrid fitness adventure and a community awareness event.
Participants can walk, run, or bike a short segment of Elizabeth River Trail from Dominion Tower to Town Point Park, and organizers will also offer assisted bike rides for those who need a little help.
“We’ve also arranged for plan for various organizations and creatives to bring awareness to just what NFK and its neighbors have to offer,” Barrett said.
Along the way, participants will have the opportunity to meet 15 organizations and creatives including Spinclusion, FreeLife, LLC, Outlife757 Magazine, HeyItsEDB, the Elizabeth River Trail, and Hampton Roads Urban Agriculture.
The event headquarters will be at Neptune’s Fury Coffee Co. in Dominion Tower. Participants may park in the Dominion Tower parking garage and check in at Neptune’s Fury Coffee for parking validation. The event is free and open to the public and takes place from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM
WANT TO GO?
WHEN: Saturday July 28, 8AM until 1 PM
WHERE: Dominion Tower, 999 Waterside Drive, Norfolk
ADMISSION: Free
