It’s called “Walk for Wellness,” a program by UPMC Health Plan and pedestrians — families with children and individuals on their own — to improve their health as well as enjoy the outdoors at Shaw Place Park in the east end of the City of Williamsport.

Among the newest initiatives will happen due the administration’s stated intention to add and update features at the park and a $10,000 donation from UPMC Health Plan that was accepted with appreciation from Mayor Derek Slaughter and Williamsport City Council this week.

The bulk of the work has been done at the park by city Streets and Parks Department crews. However, the money will be used toward the final repaving of the walking trail, installation of signage to mark various points of walkers’ distance achievement along the path, such as the quarter and half-mile markers, and finishing up with the parking lot paving off Sherman Street, all of it in the vicinity of UPMC Divine Providence Hospital campus.

UPMC Health Plan officials were interested in ways in which they could be a better part of the community, city officials were told.

“UPMC is already a vital part of this community and wanted to do more in terms of the health plan,” Slaughter told the members of the city Public Works Committee this week ahead of the favorable review and vote by the whole of council.

“We showed them Shaw Park and its walking path,” he said.

Tina Coles of UPMC Health Plan said she took the concept back to her team and the $10,000 contribution was approved to support the park and walking trail. “We are implementing a program called ‘Walk for Wellness,’ currently done at Harrisburg.” Coles said.

UPMC has “swag bags” and will provide those with smart devices access to a QR code on an app to obtain merchandise.

“It will measure miles and then people can stop at the UPMC in the Loyal Plaza. For each level of walking on the trail that they achieve, UPMC will provide them with a gift such as a water bottle, or a carry bag and as they progress on mileage the gifts will increase in value such as jackets and other nice items, according to Coles.

“Walking is the easiest exercise for people and gets people outside,” Councilwoman Bonnie Katz, committee chair, said.

” I’m thrilled to pieces that you are doing this,” she said, adding more discussion on the downtown Heart Walk path and repainting of that pathway is in the works.

“Anything that gets people outside, off their TVs and their phones and doing exercise benefits the whole community,” Councilman Randy Allison said.

Paving a part of the parking lot with the portion of the donation also is a great value, he noted.

“I am looking forward to walking on it,” Councilman Vincent Pulizzi said.