A Walk in the Park

By last summer, KRYSTEN GROSS (above, right) had spent several months eyeing a Wilmington walking group’s inactive Instagram account. She recalls previously reaching out via direct message to help organize walks, but nothing ever materialized.

Gross, who works from home for a marketing agency, had been struggling with ways to facilitate connections during her two years in Wilmington. In July, she received a direct message offering her full account ownership. That same month, she changed the account name to Wilmy Walks for All and hosted her first walk at the Wrightsville Beach Loop.

“I was already going on walks by myself, it’s something I enjoy doing,” says Gross. “There are plenty of opportunities to make friends if you’re a social drinker, or a parent, but if you’re just looking to make friends without going to a brewery, how else are you going to do that? That’s what I loved about it initially, like oh, I’d love to go on walks with other people and be able to facilitate that.”

Wilmy Walks for All hosts four walks per month at various scenic locations including Long Leaf Park, the Wrightsville Beach Loop, the Wilmington Riverwalk and Smith Creek Park. Walks are typically between 1.5 miles to four miles, depending on the trail. Offering weekend and weekday walks helps accommodate varying schedules and lets group members create stronger connections amongst each other, which Gross has watched flourish.

“For me, what I wanted to accomplish through the group was that even if I help one person feel more comfortable in Wilmington, or make a friend or connection, that is the purpose of the group and my vision,” she says.

Gross describes the demographic of the walking club as mid-to-late twenties, with some members in their early thirties. “We’re open to all women eighteen and up. At any age group, we all have something to learn from each other and something to relate to, but it really is our [mid-twenties] age group that are needing something like this,” she says.

As an icebreaker before each walk, participants share their name and how long they’ve been in Wilmington. Answers vary from six years to twelve hours. Gross’ initial mission of facilitating connections has been fruitful with members finding new friends and roommates, forming book clubs, and even attending each others’ bachelorette parties.

The group also holds partnered walks with charitable groups such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of North Carolina and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Gross hosted two Veteran’s Day Walks with Canines for Service, which included walking service dogs in training, and recently collaborated with the Wilmington Mushroom Club for a fungi-foraging walk at Brunswick Nature Park.

As the one-woman show running it all, she says, “I am very structured with how I run it and I plan out the whole year in advance. April is Earth Day, June is Pride Month, so I try to plan the walks and collaborations around those themes.” Although she prefers to keep it walk-centric, she’s also hosted member events like Secret Santa and Friendsgiving.

Gross says interested walkers often express fear in showing up to walks alone but that they shouldn’t worry. “We’re all in the same boat, most people show up alone,” she says. “Everyone is showing up to make connections, be social and enjoy nature. You’re coming into a very easy crowd of people and the intros often strike up a later conversation. My advice is to take the plunge and just do it.”

To view more of photographer Aris Harding’s work, go to arisharding.com.

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