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Examples > Adding Activity and Improving Health in Columbus, GA
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Columbus, GA
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Columbus, GA
Adding Activity and Improving Health in Columbus, GA
The Department of Parks and Recreation in the city of Columbus is proud to be
on the cutting edge of Health and Fitness opportunities.
Even with all the information below?Columbus Parks and Recreation believe it?s
just the beginning of things yet to come. The committee is committed and
excited about future endeavors that will affect their entire community. They
would like to offer a CHALLENGE to other Step Up To Health communities to get
on board, get moving and step it up a notch!
Partnership
After attending the Step Up to Health Summit in Carrolton Georgia, a committee
formed to begin a community-wide campaign. Community participation from several
divisions, organizations and partners would be needed to accomplish the goals
and objectives agreed upon.
Represented on the committee are:
Athletics
Recreation
Therapeutics
Aquatics
Seniors
City Manager?s Office
Human Resources
The Muscogee County Health Department
SAFE KIDS Organization?
Columbus Children, Youth and Family Coalition
Heart Safe City Organization
Mayor?s office
Policies and Procedures
The city Council and The Mayor of Columbus have proclaimed Columbus as a Step
up to Health community and dedicated the 3rd week in July each year as "Step up
to Health week".
Programs & Services
In order to improve the health of city employees, the Director of Parks and
Recreation, the Director of Human Resources and the City Manager (people)
approved a fantastic proposal. The plan calls for the Parks and Recreation
department to offer classes, clinics, and facilities to all employees on health
and fitness issues at no cost!
The objective is to get employees physically active, which will result in lower
insurance costs and reduce the number of sick days taken. Additionally there
are plans to offer tobacco cessation classes, health screenings and much more.
Through this initiative the committee will be offering a variety of activities
including aerobics, Tai Chi, walking clubs, organized sports, lunch time team
sports, weight lifting, boxing, water activities, and chair aerobics for the
elderly and therapeutic employees. The department is committed to affect as
many people as possible and are researching and writing grants that will
benefit their employees as well as citizens.
Festivals
Spring Festival and Expo (May) and the Fall Festival and Expo (October)
Two annual citywide events are getting a facelift to add more activity and
healthy options.
Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Columbus Sports Council help
coordinate and run the Mayor?s Wellness Walk through the historic district
during the Spring Festival. In May of 2006, this event will become the Mayor?s
Fitness Challenge and Step up to Health Spring Festival. The event will
continue to have a fun walk but will be expanded to host the Spring 5K/10K
Riverwalk Race through the historic district, a 3K fun run, and a
wheelchair/pet/stroller walk, rollerblade/skate races in the parking lot of the
Civic Center, health screenings, local music and family activities.
The Fall Fitness event is not only a festival, but has evolved into a full day
of activities. The day begins with bike rides, bicycle safety demonstrations
and helmet distributions. Then changing gears to a cross-country type foot
race. Throughout the day there will be local musicians to entertain, family
activities, games for children and fun competitions. Into the evening hayrides
will begin as well as mountain bike events, trail races, family activities, and
health expo. The day will end with a bon-fire and candlelight/flashlight walk
around the lake.
The Fall Festival will take place at one of the oldest parks, Flat Rock Park. A
recent partnership with Columbus Cycling Club has created over 7.5 miles of
mountain bike and hiking trails. There are information kiosks strategically
placed to inform visitors of the trails, the degree of difficulty, and the
terrain. The trails offer both off road and road trails offering an enjoyable
ride for the beginner and more advanced rider or hiker.
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Programs & Services
The third element of our campaign is target to youth. The Start Smart program
is being kicked off in 27 elementary schools in Columbus. This program is a
combination of the Star Smart program, VERB and the Ripken Way. To build
excitement and inclusion the sites have been broken into "Zones" which will
compete and challenge each other in creativity, participation and progress.
This program is designed to provide fitness, health awareness, team building,
role modeling, coordination and fun to all of the participants. By utilizing
area schools, the department is able to include more participants. An emphasis
is also being placed on high-risk areas and each participant?s individual goals
will be monitored during the program.
Programs & Services and Public Visibility
A Step Up To Health Van has been created as an innovative way to reach kids
where kids are. One of the department?s passenger vans will be painted and
turned into a mobile Step Up To Health Program. The van will be outfitted with
a variety of equipment for mobile activities. The mobilized programs will go to
various events to host activities, carry information and be a constant reminder
to the public of the Step Up Campaign.
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Submitted by:
Dana Weiler
Columbus Parks & Recreation
DWeiler@columbusga.org
(706) 225-4652/4658
Copyright 2006, National Recreation and Park Association. All Rights Reserved.
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22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148-4150, Phone 703.858.0784 Fax
703.858.0794
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