Acquaint Walks
A new kind of walking community whose goal is to promote richer local connection.
Find a walk near youHow is it new?
Every walker shows up as a volunteer — being part of the community means contributing to it. The app handles scheduling, pairing, and meeting places, so the format fits into the lives people are already living.
No organizers. No facilitators. No big events. Just neighbors walking together in parks across Bellevue, Kirkland, and the rest of the Eastside.
Why volunteers?
Only 26% of Americans know most of their neighbors. The rest of us know some, or none. Disconnection is relatively new as a recognized cause — but like food insecurity or education, overcoming it is increasingly understood as foundational to progress in many areas. Walks is built as a response: the design only works if everyone contributes. There’s no staff running things on the ground. The community works because people show up for each other.
Each person steps up — being present with new people, helping bring more people in, showing up with the intention of doing something good. Most walking groups are run by someone for someone else. Acquaint Walks is a community effort, and we believe every community member should be appreciated for what they put in.
You walk with whoever you're paired with. Not just people like you, not people you choose. That's what makes this different from going on a walk with friends.
Pick a time, pick a nearby park, and the app pairs you with someone to walk with. It handles scheduling, groups, and meeting places — so the structure is taken care of.
Connection doesn't need a task to justify it — just walking and talking. The U.S. Surgeon General has called this kind of unstructured time together one of the most important things we can do for each other.
You’ll be paired with someone you wouldn’t necessarily choose. Different backgrounds, different conversational styles. Being present with your partner for each conversation is what makes the community work — and why everyone who walks is a contributor.
Built on 30,000+ hours of one-on-one conversations across 110+ countries through Acquaint's Global Conversations program.
A community where everyone matters.
Walks happen because people walk together, because everyone’s presence helps the community work, and because people invite others in. There’s no facilitator — every person who shows up is part of how walks happen.
Our parks and trails need people to show up and take care of them. Our social environment does too. By walking, you’re helping make sure this is here for the next person who needs it.
Walk with us
Whether you want to walk, help get walks started in your area, or bring walks to your organization — we'd love to hear from you.
Acquaint Walks fits inside employee wellness, CSR, and volunteer engagement programs — often all three at once. Your people walk, connect, and volunteer without carving out extra time. We can run a pilot with your team in weeks.
Parks departments, libraries, faith communities, and neighborhood groups can bring walks to their existing communities. Local businesses and third places — coffee shops, bookstores, community centers — can host the after-walk gathering spot. We bring the platform; you bring the local knowledge and the welcome.
Want to help get walks started in your area? Become a Walks Champion →
Everyone who shows up is part of this.
By walking, you help keep the community going.