It seems fitting that Neon to Nature launched its mobile app just in time for American Diabetes Month. Both the American Diabetes Association and the organizations behind Neon to Nature would like to see people be more active — although in the case of the latter, the focus is on Southern Nevada; specifically, its 600 miles of trails and walking paths.
Users can download the Neon to Nature app at the Southern Nevada Health District’s website, gethealthyclarkcounty.org or in the Apple Store or Google Play. The app offers three options for searching the trails database: by proximity to the user, among bookmarked favorites or according to a custom selection of criteria, such as length and difficulty. There is also a “more info” menu item with a list of useful links.
The app, which was funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant, will undoubtedly be a hit with cyclists, dog-walkers and urban adventurers looking for new places to explore. Still in its infancy, however, it has a couple minor glitches, such as the inability to access alternative menus at any stage (in its current iteration, for instance, the app requires users to back all the way out of searches to get to the main page). Another nice addition would be the ability to search trails by zip code or neighborhood.
Nevertheless, it’s another feather in the cap of Neon to Nature, the consortium of public agencies corralled by the Health District and nonprofit Outside Las Vegas Foundation seven years ago for the purpose of getting Southern Nevadans off their duffs and into the outdoors. The group completed its online trail inventory in 2011, and since then has continued to add trails both urban and wild, along with ways to help the public access them.
