EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re happy to share this reflection from our friends at WABI Burien, who are celebrating 15 years of bringing neighbors together through their monthly Walk-n-Talks.
WABI Burien President
By Maureen Hoffmann
WABI Burien President
We’re celebrating 15 years of walking-n-talking together! All those years ago, I had returned from living in Italy for over a year, where I had walked and biked everywhere. Back in Burien, I was sitting in the 909 Café with locals, Rochelle Flynn and Shelley Brittingham, talking about how much I enjoyed all that walking. “I want that here!”, I exclaimed. The three of us talked about how great it would be to have a walking group in town.
The monthly Walk-n-Talks were launched! People “just showed up” to that first walk… and they keep showing up. It tickles me every month. (In these 15 years, we’ve only missed two months, and that was during Covid, when we were prohibited from gathering.)
We walk along secret pathways. We visit many of the City’s close-to-30 parks. Walkers enjoy the trails to and from Burien’s beaches. We muse over the public art all over town. And we enjoy the varying flavors of each residential neighborhood.
It’s been a joy to me, and I believe to others, to see the friendships that have developed between the “regulars” over the years. And there are “new” walkers each month. I smile at seeing folks walking along and chatting with someone they’ve never met before.
Some walkers have come from as far away as Bellevue, Renton, Kent and Tacoma just to join us. One couple from Kent walked with us every month for two years… and then decided to move to Burien! By the time they moved, they already had friends here, and knew all the neighborhoods.
The Walk-n-Talks are the first Sunday of every month. We meet at 2:00, and start walking at 2:15. The meeting place and walking route change every month, and average 2.25 miles. We cover all areas of Burien, and see many beautiful – and sometimes surprising – things along the way.
We average about 20 people on each walk… sometimes as few as 10, sometimes up to 35. That adds up to about 3500 participants or more over the 15 years!
Other Local Walks
WABI also organizes the WABI Weekday Walkers, walking in the mornings of the third Wednesday of each month. And, because we want to support local walking groups, we help to promote the Des Moines Waterland Walkers, who walk on the fourth Saturday of each month. Read more HERE.
WABI Burien = Walk/Bike Burien
WABI’s mission is to provide events and advocacy for a Walk/Bike community. Read more about the current Board Member “WABI-ists” HERE.
As an official non-profit organization, registered with the State, we were responsible for designing and installing 41 custom bike racks around town, in coordination with the Burien PaRCS Department. You can read more about that 4-year effort HERE.
Thank You
I’m so grateful for all that have come into my life because of creating WABI and leading the monthly walks. A big Thank You to all of you that have and do participate. I show up because YOU do!
And a very special Thank You to Scott Schaefer and the B-Town Blog for having promoted our walks all these years. The Blog gets the word out! (You can also subscribe to WABI’s email notices HERE.)
Browse this random selection of photos from our Walk-n-Talks, and smile… then come join us on an upcoming walk. See you then and there!
In gratitude,
Maureen Hoffmann
info@wabiburien.org
