Family Health & Fitness Day: Saturday, June 13

The Ponca City Parks and Recreation Department invites all Ponca City residents to celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day on Saturday, June 13.  Family Health & Fitness Day promotes the importance of local parks and recreation in keeping communities healthy.  \

To celebrate, the Parks and Recreation Department encourages everyone to connect with the Ponca City RecPlex and learn about all the ways in which the Parks and Recreation Department can help families achieve their health and fitness goals.

The RecPlex welcomes the community to come experience a free open house on Saturday, June 13, beginning at 10:00 a.m. In addition to all of the amenities of the RecPlex, the day’s activities will include facility tours, popup fitness classes, inflatables, lawn games, and an outdoor movie starting at dusk. Instructors will also be on hand to answer questions and showcase the variety of classes and programming available to the community.

“Parks and Recreation is critical to the health and wellbeing of a community.  I encourage every citizen in Ponca City to discover the numerous recreational opportunities available in our community and find the health and fitness strategies that best meet the needs of you and your family,“ said Eric Newell, Ponca City Parks and Recreation Director.

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, the top five ways to get fit with parks and recreation include taking a walk, cooking a healthy meal, enrolling in a virtual fitness program, creating your own exercise routine, and playing outside.  Parks and Recreation professionals nationwide offer year-round opportunities for families and individuals to stay active and fit. 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 at the Ponca City RecPlex, visit www.poncacityok.gov/parksandrec.  The Ponca City Parks and Recreation Department manages over 730 acres in 29 parks and passive land, all recreation on the 800 acre Lake Ponca, the state of the art Ponca City RecPlex, thriving Senior Center, the beautiful and historic Wentz Camp and Pool, AMBUC Pool, five splash pads, three public disc golf courses, nine tennis courts, and multiple playgrounds. In addition, the department plants over 45,000 annuals throughout the city and maintains over 300 planting areas.

Celebrated the second Saturday in June each year, Family Health & Fitness Day is an opportunity for everyone to discover all the health benefits provided by their local park and recreation department. To learn more about Family Health & Fitness Day, visit www.nrpa.org/familyfitness.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity.

Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.