Find the Golden Hiking Boot and Win a $100 Parks and Recreation Gift Certificate

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

The American Hiking Society's National Trails Day®, the largest annual trails celebration, is scheduled for Saturday, June 6.  GetAbout Columbia, in partnership with Columbia Parks and Recreation, is hosting a Find the Golden Hiking Boot Treasure Hunt in honor of the celebration.  A clue will be posted on Saturday, June 6 at 7:00 a.m. on Columbia Parks and Recreation's Facebook and Twitter. Treasure seekers may also listen to the clue by calling the Parks and Recreation Hotline at (573) 874-7663 (prompt 5). 

The person who finds the "Golden Hiking Boot" will receive a $100 Parks and Recreation gift certificate.  Notification will be given to verify that the hunt is over after the official winner has been confirmed. 

Interested parties are encouraged to download the Go CoMo Trails App or pick up a copy of Columbia Parks and Recreation's Trail Guide and Map to aid in their search.  Trail Guides are available at the following locations: City Hall, ARC, Armory Sports Center and the Gentry Building.

This event is free and open to the public.  No registration is required. For more information, call GetAbout Columbia at (573) 441-5495.

According to a recent local citizen survey, 82 percent of respondents indicated they have used walking, hiking and biking trails over the past 12 months.

In addition to benefiting individuals, a good trail system can also be a great benefit to the community's health as a whole. According to the American Hiking Society, "when trails are clean and well maintained, users and surrounding communities benefit greatly. Property values are higher in communities with clean and safe areas for recreation."

About GetAbout Columbia (getaboutcolumbia.com):  Funding for GetAbout Columbia is provided by the Federal Highway Administration's Non-Motorized Transportation Program.  Education and encouragement programs are administered by the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department.

About American Hiking Society's National Trails Day® :  American Hiking Society's National Trails Day® is a nationally recognized trail awareness program that occurs annually on the first Saturday of June and inspires the public to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in outdoor activities, clinics, and trail stewardship projects. National Trails Day® is a registered trademark of American Hiking Society.  NTD introduces thousands of Americans to a wide array of trail activities: hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, trail running, and bird watching and more.  National Trails Day® is a registered trademark of American Hiking Society.  To learn more about National Trails Day 2015, please visit www.NationalTrailsDay.org or contact John Michels, Director of Communications and Trail Programs, at 301.565.6704 x703.