In spite of the walker-friendly weather seen across the area the last few weeks, winter still lingers on the horizon.
Those who want to continue hitting the pavement in the cold and snow without having to dress like an eskimo are invited to visit Dowagiac Union High School after school this season.
School officials are once again opening the building’s hallways to walkers, joggers and runners throughout the community. From now through the end of winter, people may walk inside the facility from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every weeknight.
The school has offered this service to the community for more than 20 years, allowing people to maintain their walking or running schedule when the school’s public outdoor track, becomes difficult to traverse in winter, said DUHS Principal Kelly Millin.
Around a dozen or so people use the school for walking during the winter, from mothers with children in tow to the elderly, the principal said.
“We have some that have been coming for so long I know them by name,” Millin said. “We often get a chance to talk and joke around with each other before they start their workout.”

Though school normally ends around 2:30 p.m. everyday, administrators ask that walkers come later in the afternoon, as teams often use the hallways for practice immediately after school, Millin said.
“We encourage people to come in after the athletes finish, so we do not have any collisions or anything,” she said.
During basketball games or other winter events, portions of the school such as the gymnasium and cafeteria may be inaccessible, but besides that all hallways are open for walking, Millin said. People are also not allowed to use bikes or skateboards inside the building.
For administrators, opening the school to the community during the winter is more than just a kind act for active people. It also allows people who normally do not visit the high school to swing by and see what is happening inside the building, Millin said.
“It is nice to have the community around,” she said.
The public is asked to use the front entrance during winter walking hours, Millin said.