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Reserving Space for April 2013 through May 2014
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lifestyle changes including eating healthy and has lost about 30 pounds.
Efforts to Shed the Title When it began offering fitness classes in the park at a variety of hours, the city may have eliminated two variables some San Antonians have reasoned kept them from working out more and staying fit. Classes offered through the City Parks and Recreation Department, were conducted free and at times that were convenient, including the noon lunch hour. Classes in yoga, Tai Chi, boot camps and Zumba are just a few of the classes made available. Next, the city installed fitness equipment at various park locations throughout the city. Other initiatives include: ■■making it more appealing to residents to ride
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Our Kids Magazine | March 2013
bicycles on city streets by adopting a policy making streets safe for all users ■■installing fitness equipment in 363 schools for physical education and after-school programs ■■installing salad bars in more than 100 schools to improve access to nutritious foods ■■adding walking trails for public use at two libraries, four housing facilities and five public schools ■■expanding Por Vida, the nutrition and menulabeling program that helps adults and children find healthy dining choices ■■distributing 1,200 bikes through “Ride to Own” programs with the YMCA, San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department and San Antonio Housing Authority residents ■■launching a B-cycle bike share program offering 21 bicycle rental kiosks in the downtown area. San Antonio’s improved rankings have been attributed to efforts of a network of community organizations, including the YMCA, San Antonio Sports, San Antonio Food Bank, some area school districts, the Mayor’s Fitness Council and others.
What’s Next To continue moving the city toward fitness and health, city officials will introduce a new health and fitness initiative in the Fall of 2013. Details of the initiative are still being worked out. Cynthia Ladson is Editor of Our Kids Magazine and the mother of one daughter.