By: Elizabeth Corridan

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (abc40) - When you think of safe, clean recreation areas around Springfield, the city's riverfront is not usually high on the list.  Long associated with homelessness and drug use, the riverfront has developed a bad reputation and most people avoid the area altogether. 

On Friday, more than 100 employees from Health New England took a walk along the 3.7 mile bikeway.  The goal was not just to promote health in the workplace; it was to showcase the riverfront as a recreation destination.  Peter Straley, President and CEO of Health New England, says the goal was to invite people down to enjoy the hidden resource.  Straley adds that most people who work in the downtown area do not realize that an open park exists right at the end of State Street. He says, "Let's introduce people to the idea that it's here, it's clean, it's safe and it's beautiful."

The Health New England staff was not alone on their stroll.  Many walkers, bikers and joggers were out enjoying a warm spring afternoon.  Sheila McElwaine is a Springfield resident committed to protecting the riverfront.  She tours the bikeway several times a year with friends and representatives from City Hall.  Together they identify the problems and determine a course of action to correct them.  McElwaine says, "We've found that by and large it is pretty well maintained.  We've had good cooperation from the city and police getting outreach workers down here to get the homeless people into shelters and getting the graffiti cleaned up."

Both Straley and McElwaine agree.  The only way to understand just how enjoyable Springfield's riverfront can be is to explore it.