Posted 11:39 pm Tuesday, March 12, 2013
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FitCOUNTY Cherokee to host event in park
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FitCOUNTY Cherokee has ironed out details for its first "Fit Day in the Park," organizers announced Monday.
The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon April 6 at the Jacksonville Athletic Complex.
Cherokee County Public Health Department executive director Chris Taylor said the event was originally set for Nichols Green Park but was moved so it would coincide with the beginning of spring baseball and soccer.
"Fit Day in the Park" will include exercise demonstrations and information on healthy snacking, according to FitCOUNTY Cherokee. Taylor said there also will be container gardening, and seeds will be given away so residents can learn how to grow their own vegetables.
Additionally, the event will feature free bike helmets and free life preservers as available, Taylor said.
He said a similar event in Tyler has been successful as far as being an outreach campaign, and organizers want "Fit Day in the Park" to be as successful. He said they also want to market local opportunities.
For instance, he said Jacksonville has a lot of parks and recreation space that people might not know about, so FitCOUNTY Cherokee is trying to promote what is already in the area.
"I think the main goal is just to promote healthier options (and) also to have fun with wellness. ... This really can be fun incorporating a healthier lifestyle," he said.
Sid Riley, human resource director/wellness coordinator for Cherokee County, echoed Taylor, saying he believes the ultimate purpose is to make people more aware of a healthy lifestyle and encourage them to possibly start exercising more.
"We want to try to make people more aware of healthy alternatives and some outlets for different exercises -- whatever puts them on the track for a healthier life," Riley said.
"We're just looking at families young and old. This is not targeted for young children but (people) young and old."
Taylor encouraged all families to come out to the athletic complex that weekend. Even if they aren't interested in going to exhibitors, they can bring a ball to pass around or do something else active together, he said.
"We're just looking for our community to rally around us as we rally around them," he said.
There is no charge for the event.
Taylor said depending on the success of the first "Fit Day in the Park," FitCOUNTY Cherokee would like to repeat and grow the event.
