My Walkable Green Neighborhood
Having three neighborhood parks makes for green fun! Credit: terren in Virginia
Why are all of the FBGs discussing green fitness stuff this week? Because it’s Fit Bottomed Earth Week, silly!
I live in New Jersey. More than likely, it’s probably not at the top of your list when you think green. Sure, it’s the Garden State, but in most minds, green ends there. Especially if you only see the area of Jersey around the airport. It’s quite gray in those parts.
But a lot of NJ is shockingly pretty—fall is amazing here—and green. And I’m lucky that the neighborhood I live in affords me the opportunity to green-up my daily life. Not only do they come pick up recycling for free at the curb twice monthly, but I can also walk to almost everything I need. My walkable neighborhood includes:
- Dentist (must keep those whites pearly!)
- Eye doctor (must see)
- Primary care doctor
- Hair salon (for my not-frequent-enough highlights)
- Tailor/dry cleaner
- Pharmacy
- Post office (frequent mailing of FBG giveaways!)
- Bank (for my big bills)
- Insurance agent (getting life insurance makes you feel like such an adult)
- Accountant
- Two Chinese food options (all things in moderation!)
- Two pizza options
- A bar and grill and a new Irish pub on the way
- Ice cream
- Meat market
- Liquor store
- Library
- Three parks (for play!)
Man, if there was a grocery store, a Target and a Chipotle, I’d never leave this five-block radius! It’s nice to be able to walk to run errands. It means that I get more exercise, and I save on gas while helping the environment. Plus, it’s easier to stroll with the kids rather than loading and unloading them from the car repeatedly. And you guys: I signed up for a Zumba class at a nearby park location, but realized there is a new Zumba and kickboxing studio in my downtown area. Two Zumba options?! I’m going to dance my heart back into fit!
Do you live in a walkable neighborhood? What do you wish you could walk to? —Erin