STAUNTON, VA (10/25/2011)(readMedia)-- The Staunton Parks and Recreation Department announces the tentatively scheduled opening of its new and improved Outdoor Fitness Center on Friday, October 28, 2011. The fitness center is located below the Garden Center and across from the Duck Pond in Gypsy Hill Park. There are 8 new pieces of fitness equipment that have been added to the existing stretching station for a total cost of $16,165.00. The new pieces of fitness equipment are: Single Chest Press, Double Leg Press, 2 Person Airwalker, Upright Stationary Bike, Combo Butterfly/Reverse Butterfly machine, Single Eliptical Cross Trainer, 2 Person Laying Leg Curl, Back Stretch machine.

The Staunton Parks and Recreation Department was motivated to lobby for the additional equipment based on sound research. In December of 2010 several studies revealed compelling results about the benefits of physical activity provided by parks and recreation services. One study conducted by Penn State based Dr. Geoffry Godbey showed the following:

• In an era of economic downturn, surveys show that people are more dependent on public park and recreation services for physical activity.
• Park and recreation services provide opportunities for physical activity during leisure hours.
• About four out of five Americans used local government park and recreation services. Recreation programs and recreation centers add to the physical activity benefits of parks.
• The necessity of moving one's body in daily life has declined dramatically, helping produce an epidemic of obesity.
• There is evidence that small additional investments would provide substantially more health benefits.
• The relationship between investment in parks and recreation and the amount of exercise by boys and girls was very clearly identified in a nationwide study.
• There is a strong relationship between how much money is spent to provide such services and the amount of physical activity health benefits people receive.
• Of all the scientific evidence linking parks to physical activity, the strongest evidence is the relationship between close access (proximity) to parks and physical activity. Close-to-home park and recreation resources result in more physical activity and better health for citizens. Improving access to known park opportunities could focus on better transit connections by creating connector routes (dedicated paths, sidewalks, trails) to parks. Public parks are critical resources for physical activity in minority Communities. Another obstacle to park use, especially in the minority community is awareness.

The evidence is also clear that the public supports additional spending for park and recreation services and that such additional spending results in higher levels of physical activity health benefits. While many people experiment with forms of physical activity that are good for them but not pleasurable, they tend to stay with activities that they enjoy, often for decades. All these activities are commonly provided by park and recreation services at little or no direct cost to users of park features and supports is idea of higher use levels being linked to local park proximity .

In addition, Frances Kuo, Ph.D. from the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana found that less access to nature is linked to exacerbated attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, more sadness and higher rates of clinical depression. Environments with less green are associated with greater rates of childhood obesity. People of the same socioeconomic status who have greater access to nature have better physical health outcomes.

Science tells us that Green Environments play a central role in human health and healthy human functioning.

The Staunton Parks and Recreation Department is working toward a department goal of reducing childhood obesity by providing outlets for safe physical activity. In addition, the Outdoor Fitness Center is a value statement about fairness in providing parks and recreation services to all taxpayers and not just those who can afford a membership. If residents pay local taxes of any kind then they are subsidizing our parks and in turn deserve equal opportunity to benefit from their use. Finally and more broadly is the desire of Staunton Parks and Recreation to provide a means toward better health and quality of life via physical activity by providing close-to-home park and recreation resources.

Let's Make Staunton Great!

Posted Tuesday October 25, 2011 at 08:00 pm by City of Staunton Parks and Recreation
Last Updated Wednesday October 26, 2011 at 01:11 pm