OLDS — June is Parks and Recreation Month in Olds and the town plans to celebrate it by getting people active.
During a presentation to town council last month, employee Nici Carmichael said the purpose of the declaration is to highlight the benefits that come from being active and to encourage residents to enjoy the parks and green spaces in town.
As a result, employees have devised a way to promote that goal in a COVID-friendly way.
Olds residents will be encouraged to get outdoors, get active, and submit that activity – hopefully with photos – to the town's website.
“Our goal for this year is to get the residents of Olds to accumulate 150,000 minutes of moderately vigorous activity throughout the month of June,” Carmichael said.
“Also on our website we’re going to have a goal thermometer. So each day I’ll update it to see our progress towards that goal.”
At the end of the month, a draw will be held for all participants who have submitted their activity to the website.
"We’re hoping people will challenge their family members, their friends, their neighbours,” she said.
An added benefit of the activities being posted is that it will give parks and recreation staff an opportunity to determine residents’ favourite things to do in the community, she said.
Councillors indicated they really liked the plans.
“I think this will really get the community active and I think it might really encourage some of our community too to visit some of our trails and parks and get out and (see) the scenery in the town of Olds,” Coun. Wanda Blatz said.
“We’ve got some really lovely trail systems here and I think it’s really great for people to get out and have a look at everything. Good job, thank you.”
Coun. Heather Ryan echoed that thought.
“I know during the summer time last year the trails were just booming with people riding their bikes and families out having walks,” she said. “I think that this sort of challenge will promote that even more during the month of June.
“Thank you very much for doing this and maybe by the time June comes along we’ll even have some of our outdoor facilities back open again; you never know.”
Coun. Mary Anne Overwater wondered if Olds could challenge neighbouring communities.
Carmichael admitted she hadn’t thought of that idea.
“Maybe that’s something we could look into,” Carmichael said.
