Downtown On the Go will host a free walking event at Tollefson Plaza on Fri., Aug. 17, at noon. Walkers can choose from a 1.5-mile “history walk” led by Dale Wirsing with the Tacoma Historical Society or a two-mile “power walk” led by Morgan Blackmore with Tacoma Strength. The walk, sponsored by Two Koi Japanese Cuisine, will start and end at Tollefson Plaza at South 17th Street and Pacific Avenue. There is no pre-registration necessary.

The Tollefson Plaza walk is part of “Walk Tacoma,” Downtown On the Go’s walking series, sponsored by Franciscan Health System and held in April, June and August. The fun, casual walks, now in their third year, encourage downtown employees and residents to exercise and enjoy the outdoors by discovering the different walking routes and parks in downtown Tacoma, and to build awareness of downtown’s “walkability.”

“We hope downtown employees and residents take a break at lunch on August 17 to join Walk Tacoma to exercise, enjoy downtown, and learn more about their community,” said Downtown On the Go Coordinator Meagan Kula. The Tollefson Plaza walk is a new walk just added to the series this year. The “history walk” will travel along Pacific Avenue and A Street, stopping at historical landmarks, and the instructor-led “power walk” will head up the hill for a more challenging workout.

Walking maps of all of the routes are available at no cost at Downtown On the Go, 950 Pacific Ave., Suite 300, at many downtown businesses, or by contacting Kula at (253) 682-1734 or dotg@tacomachamber.org. More information is online here.