CANTON -- Canton officials are encouraging visitors to park their cars farther away from where they’re going to increase their daily steps.

They recently hung five all-weather plastic signs around county building parking lots. Visitors to the St. Lawrence County Public Health and Human Services Building will also get reminders indoors in various locations throughout the building as well as at the other downtown county offices.

Parking farther away is just one of many small behavior changes people can make to become more active, according to Cornell Cooperative Extension. Other recommendations include taking the stairs instead of elevators or escalators, walking or biking shorter distances instead of driving, and taking brief walks or stretch breaks throughout the day to break up long periods of sitting. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County (CCE) and the Adopting Healthy Habits (AHH) Community Coalition say they are urging local businesses to help remind people to walk more by posting signs encouraging them to park farther away and walk those extra steps to good health.

CCE and the AHH Community Coalition invite any area businesses or organizations to take advantage of this offer and contact them to receive free signs and metal posts. The signs are available in both metal and heavy-duty plastic. The Adopting Healthy Habits Community Coalition works to make the North Country a healthier place to live, work and play. They help local groups, community leaders, and organizations create policies, practices and environments to make healthy lifestyles the easy choice. For more information on the Park Farther signs or any of the other healthy initiatives through the AHH Community Coalition, please contact April Bennett at 315-788-8450 ext. 265 or aln48@cornell.edu