The city of Woodstock invites residents to celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day on June 13 and discover how “parks build healthy communities.” Organized by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Family Health & Fitness Day promotes the importance of local parks and recreation in keeping communities healthy.
To celebrate, Woodstock’s parks and recreation employees encourage families to get active at parks like Dupree Park or on trails like the Towne Lake Pass.
“Woodstock Parks and Recreation works every day to build a healthier Woodstock,” said Michael Huffstetler, parks and recreation director. “Our goal is to provide residents better access to nature, so they can relieve stress, strengthen their immunity and their interpersonal relationships, and improve mental well-being.”
Woodstock residents also can participate in one of NRPA’s top five ways to get fit with parks and recreation:
1. Take a walk.
2. Go for a swim.
3. Enroll in a fitness program.
4. Create your own exercise routine.
5. Play outside.
Parks and recreation departments nationwide offer year-round opportunities for families and individuals to stay active and fit. In fact, living close to parks and other recreation facilities is consistently related to higher physical activity levels for both adults and youth. To learn more about the health and wellness opportunities offered in Woodstock, visit woodstockparksandrec.com.
Celebrated the second Saturday in June each year, Family Health & Fitness Day is an opportunity for everyone to get out and discover all of the health benefits provided by their local parks and recreation department. To learn more, visit www.nrpa.org/familyfitness.
Did You Know?
• According to a poll conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association, 36% of U.S. adults use a trail for hiking, running or walking to relieve stress, while 35% gather with family, friends or pets at a local park.
• On average, children who live in greener environments weigh less than children who live in less green areas.
• Between 2000 and 2012, more than 85 studies were published that link parks to better physical and mental health.
• More than 46 million Americans live with mental health illnesses, according to 2017 data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It has been proposed that the field of parks and recreation can assist with those challenges. Search for How Parks and Recreation Can Support Mental Health Initiatives at www.nrpa.org.
• According to a recent article in Yale Environment 360, research points to the benefits that exposure to the natural world has on health, reducing stress and promoting healing. Policymakers, employers, and health care providers now consider the human need for nature in how they plan and operate. Search for Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health at www.e360.yale.edu.
Information provided by the National Recreation and Park Association. www.nrpa.org/events/family-fitness-day.
– Stacy Brown is the Marketing Manager INWDSTK for the city of Woodstock.
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