The American Heart Association is calling on all South Dakotans to lace up their sneakers and take a walk. It's now partnering with the city of Sioux Falls to help you do just that.

They're heart healthy, they're free and in Sioux Falls, they're right around every corner. The American Heart Association dedicated 15 Start! walking paths around the city. It's a huge effort to get outside and start walking.

If you've noticed these signs, then you're on the right path.

"We're really excited about working with the American Heart Association to be able to dedicate our paths throughout the entire city in our park system, to be able to create an awareness of where people can get on a trail, do some walking, and get fit and stay healthy," Director of Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Don Kearney said.

In a celebration at Falls Park, the signs went up and the walking began. To be designated as a Start Walking Path, the trails must be safe, walker-friendly, accessible and have good parking nearby.

"Visitors that come from other towns where they don't have the types of trail system that we have, where you can go 20 miles and never have to cross a city street is really incredible," Kearney said.

Start! is the American Heart Association's national initiative that champions exercise, especially walking for many reasons.

"It's something that nearly everyone can do. Also, walking is one of those exercise regimes that has a very high rate for people sticking with it," Senior Director for the American Heart Association Darrin Smith said.

And the proof is in the statistics. A person is more likely to have heart disease if they're inactive. But walking 30 minutes a day can help reduce blood pressure, high cholesterol and can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

The American Heart Association and the city hope that alone gets people outdoors.

"Not just for the citizens of Sioux Falls. But also the visitors that come to Sioux Falls on a daily basis throughout the year. They now know this is a tourist-friendly, exercise-friendly community for them as well," Smith said.

Learn more about the American Heart Association's Start! program.

Start! Walking Paths in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls Bike Trail
Dunham Park Walking Loop (Marion Road and Silver Valley Drive) 
Falls Park Walking Path (Weber and Falls Park Drive) 
Glenview Park Walking Path (57th and Glenview) 
Kuehn Park Walking Loop (41st Street and Kuehn Park Drive) 
Lion’s Centennial Park Walking Loop (49th and Southeastern) 
Terrace Park Walking Loop (Madison and Menlo) 
Spellerberg Park Walking Path (26th Street and Western Avenue) 
Yankton Trail Park Walking Path (South Minnesota Avenue at the Big Sioux River) 
McKennan Park Walking Path (26th Street and Second Avenue) 
Emerson Park Walking Path (15th and West Avenue) 
Harmodon Park Walking Path (41st Street and Highway 11) 
Prairie Trail Walking Path (62nd and Tomar Road) 
Platinum Valley Walking Path (West 82nd and Hughes Avenue) 
Sertoma Park Walking Path (49th and Oxbow)