Walkers descend on West halls in deep of night to escape winter chill
The halls are silent, barren, no signs of life except custodians quietly sweeping. As the clocks hit six, you can hear a tap, tap, tap. That’s when the walkers rule the night. Contrary to walker lore, though, these ones are very much alive. During winter months when the sidewalks are slippery and the air is freezing, the Oshkosh Recreation Department offers adults the opportunity to escape the harsh outside, inviting them to the warm, well lit halls of West High School. Adults can walk for free on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 during the cold months of November to April.
Barb Schmiedel, administrative assistant at the Rec Department, said the department started the program to fill a gap in active opportunities.
“The program started after a request from former Superintendent Stan Mack to offer adults indoor accessibility during the cold months for exercise,” she said. “Walking hours are three nights a week for two hours. They can come in register, walk a certain pathway and again be out of the elements.”
Jerry Tappy has been involved in the program for six years now.
“It’s free. All you have to do is sign up and if you sign up, you get a badge which is just to let the custodians know you belong here,” he said. “Then you can come walk for as long or as little as you want.”
Despite the school being open, night walkers are restricted to the W, A, and E-wings.
“It’s done on purpose, the custodians have work to do, so that they don’t bring their machines and stuff over here and we don't go where they’re working,” Tappy said.
Lonni Spanbauer, an OWHS graduate and avid outdoor walker in the summer, has been a night walker for five years. Walking through the hallway, she appreciates the program in the winter.
“When it’s cold and rotten outside, I don’t want to break my ankle or my foot or anything, I can just come in here to get out of the house and it’s warm,” she said. “It’s very convenient; they let you come and go as you please. You don't have to make an appointment or anything like that, and you can just walk as much as you want and go home.”
Tanya Schultz is a relative newcomer to the program but enjoys a place to walk in the winter, viewing it as the better alternative to walking in the YMCA or a store.
“At the YMCA you have to be like a member to go, which is so expensive and Walmart is very distracting with a lot of foot traffic,” she said. “I just want to stay focused on the task at hand and get it done; here I don’t have to stop for anyone or go slower, and I can stay motivated.”
Schultz walks with her friend Jenny Leichtfuss, also former OWHS graduates, and they speed through the nostalgic halls.
“This is great. Even if we’re walking too fast, people just snap aside and we walk past,” said Schultz. “We just want to go down to the other end so we can relieve some more memories, though I don’t know if I want to go down to the science section.”
Prenatal friends Cara Lanoldt and Jodi Matiash enjoy the program. Lanoldt views it as a great time to bond with her best friend.
“We love the fact that it’s free and it gives us time every week to connect consistently, which is great for friendship,” she said. “I wouldn’t come by myself to walk because Jodi and I made a plan to walk together every week then because of accountability.”
Matiash doesn’t care that she’s going in circles and circles around West and loves how beneficial it is.
“I don’t feel like the location matters, I’m so focused on chatting that the location is actually secondary. It’s not nearly as important as the company,” she said. “It’s warm, dry, well lit, and safe, all benefits of being able to walk these halls and Jerry, especially Jerry.”
Many wear headphones while walking, like Sally Porklanzey, to escape the monotony
“I listen to music to deal with the monotony of walking around in a circle and this way two miles really goes fast,” she said. “Sometimes you’re going and it’s like, oh, I don’t remember passing that wing and then all of a sudden it’s like, oh I’m already on the side of the high school.”
High school sweethearts Linda and Randy Pribek enjoy the program to reminisce on their time at West.
“Not a lot has changed, and in this program I run into people that went to school with me,” he said. “We used to go to a lot of basketball games here and have had the best roller coaster ever in West.”
Schmiedel has heard positive feedback from everyone and is glad to see people utilizing it.
“Everyone really enjoys it and everyone’s very grateful to the rec department. Our numbers grow every year and new people and years past to participate,” she said.
Spanbauer wants word to get out about the program.
“It would be nice if we could get some more people involved in it. It’s kind of hard to get the word out there. I try to tell everybody, but just to get more people coming,” she said. “I bet you there are so many people that don't even know about the program and would come if they knew how easy it is and it’s good for your heart.”
by Fahad Mian
Published February 26, 2024
Oshkosh West Index vol 120 Issue V