Downtown Details October

Now that the weather has cooled down, it’s a wonderful time to take a walk around Downtown Redding. People who walk regularly swear by the health and psychological benefits of their daily jaunt. Here are three reasons they’re right:

1. Walking reduces stress, cheers you up and increases self-esteem

If you’ve ever gone out for a walk after a stressful situation and came back more calm and collected, you know firsthand how walking is a positive way to cope with stressful events. Studies confirm that walking benefits your mood by releasing your body’s natural happy drugs — endorphins. You’ll be proud at the end of each walk by setting small goals to get moving and accomplishing them, all the while increasing your self-esteem.

2. You can lose weight by walking just 30 minutes a day

Walking is also one of the best exercises for losing weight — it’s relatively easy to do, easy on the joints, it’s free and you have to do it every day anyway. To start walking for fitness, try to begin with a 20-minute walk every day. Once you have mastered that, take your time increasing to a higher level. Never increase by more than 10 percent any one day than your maximum the prior week.

3. Regular walking lowers blood pressure, and it’s fun

Tracking your steps with an app that features a pedometer can be key to walking success. People who love their apps or pedometers log a reported 2,000 more steps per day. Why? The reward comes from witnessing your success in real time, and enjoying the mental reward of celebrating your step-based accomplishments.

HERE’S THE BLAKEDOWN
Blake Fisher – Viva Downtown Program Coordinator

In June, the City of Redding opened a competition that sought out artists to create a small mural for a storm drain. The requested art theme was to raise awareness about the direct link between the city’s storm drains that are connected to the Sacramento River and the necessity of keeping our waterways clean. After 88 incredible art submissions, the city selected, Cyan Samone. Samone’s storm drain design is located on the intersection of Market and Yuba streets in Downtown Redding and features two great blue herons wading in the Sacramento River near a setting sun. This small art project is one of many ways that downtowns are recognizing how art can be incorporated and useful for the everyday infrastructure in a city. It is great to see that art does not need to be exclusive to a bare wall on a building or presented in an art gallery, but re-imagining the way we see and use utilities on our streets. An average concrete gutter storm drain can be transformed into a work of art. I look forward to seeing more art in Downtown Redding.

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Kwik-N-Kleen Car Wash has been in business for 95 years and is the longest-running member of the Redding Chamber of Commerce to date. Owner Don Hoff and his staff are friendly and professional. Kwik-N-Kleen is a fast, convenient and economical place to clean your car. Their gentle automated pull-through wash includes a hand-scrubbed pre-clean and a personal towel dry exit.

1210 Market St. • Redding • (530) 243-4211

The Redding Chamber of Commerce is a convener, catalyst and champion working to foster economic growth and a thriving community. They offer many amenities to the greater Redding business community that help to promote and protect our economy. They advocate tirelessly to make sure the business community is well represented against endless regulations, fees and fines. They also provide many opportunities for 900 businesses to network, co-compete and grow together.

Visit Redding shines light on Redding’s little oasis. It’s a great resource for discovering the best things to do in Redding. They encourage tourism where cultural entertainment, downtown dining and top-tier accommodations are just minutes from waterfall-filled hikes, cycling trails and nationally celebrated kayaking and fishing.

1321 Butte St., Ste. 100 • Redding Chamber of Commerce (530) 225-4433 Visit Redding (530) 225-4100