Recreating Well

from Live Well Estes: Summer 2020

Living Well

Get outside and play!

EVRPD / Courtesy photo The Water Wars series lets kids run through sprinklers, launch water balloons and play on a Slip-N-Slide.

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By Lisa VonBargen, EVRPD Community Engagement Manager

For the Trail-Gazette

There are endless research studies that describe the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits ofexercising outdoors. With everything going on in our world today, these scientific reasons are more valid than ever before. One of the most important aspects of this is simply the sense ofjoy that you experience when you’re doing something fun outside. Remember when you were a kid; the feeling of heading out the door on a warm sunny summer morning? Maybe you were going to ride your bike or play ball with some friends. Maybe you were a lucky kid whose family took a trip to Estes Park and you were going on a mountain hike or got to go on a paddleboat on Lake Estes. That’s the feeling we want you to have again, and that’s the reason we are passionate about offering recreational opportunities to our youth and adult populations, both residents and visitors, in Estes Park.

Pickle ball is a sport that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. Lauren Pavlish, our Adult Recreation Coordinator, organized aseries of pickle ball challenges at the outdoor courts in Stanley Park. Pavlish remarked, “It was tricky to re-vamp our existing plans for a pickle ball tournament series. We put social distancing protocols in place and reduced the number of participants and spectators. Fortunately, we have aloyal group ofplayers who are making this work and having a great time in the process!” One member ofthat loyal group is Patty Bartlett, who, with her husband, divides residence between Estes Park and Green Valley, AZ. She described the pickle ball community as friendly competitors who are generous sharing their knowledge of the game with new players. “Once you play pickle ball withagroup ofpeople, they are your friends for life! Those ofus who travel always bring our paddles and are able to find opportunities to play on websites that feature clinics and court locations around the country”. There’s one pickle ball challenge left this summer on Fri day, July 24 from 8 a.m. –10:30 a.m. at the Stanley Park Pickle Ball Courts. Registration deadline: July 22; sign up at evrpd.com.

Putting ayouth recreation program together for the summer ofsocial distancing was even more daunting. All camps were cancelled. Things that under normal circumstances would be indoors, such as gymnastics, were moved outside to picnic shelters. Our recreation staff, Nolan Oberg, Lauren Pavlish and “O” Stadnichuck created some very successful programming despite the social distancing challenges. Oberg commented, ”As a dad of3 young boys duringapan demic, I feel strongly that we especially need to do everything in our power to safely provide recreational opportunities for Estes Park youth. We have had to get creative, see outside, pg. 14

WORKING OUT WELL

Gyms are nowopen

By Deb Holmes

For the Trail-Gazette

Well, the world of exercising in a gym or indoor facility has changed dramatically these last few months and the change isn’t pleasant at all. Like every other business in town, our local gyms, fitness, recreation and indoor exercise facilities were forced to shut their doors for 6-8 weeks only to reopen under strict guidelines.

With the knowledge that exercise and fitness are undeniable barriers for the human body against many disease and aging processes. It’s been proven, in science and in real life, that practicing regular exercise and fitness prolong and improve quality of life, even during yearly epidemic flu seasons and unprecedented pandemics.

Unfortunately, the fear that still lingers in the world today about COVID-19 has us worried that people aren’t getting their regular exercise and in particular their strength training. It’s been over three months and that’s too long to remain sedentary. There is absolutely no reason to fear your indoor workout facility any longer.

They, like all indoor places that are essential, have gone above and beyond the measures that were mandated in order to open their doors for your return. This required increased expenditures during the closure when income was nonexistent. Things like moving equipment to space properly, separating therapy from fitness, disinfecting carpets and floors, purchasing stronger disinfectant that doesn’t harm lungs and equipment, masks, gloves, signs. The list is serious.

As mandated, strict rules have been in place since opening our facility in June. There are only alimited number of people allowed in the facility at any given time, machines are spaced s ix feet apart, masks are required to be worn, machines are cleaned before and after each person uses it, high touch areas are disinfected every hour, doors are open and attic fan is on to promote increased circulation. Our staff is there to make sure rules are followed and that proper disinfecting is continuous. There is not much more that can be done to assure members safety against Covid19 inside our facility.

There are various sides and multiple opinions on mask wearing and the health and safety when wearing them. We agree that it’s not pleasant exercising while wearing a mask. In fact, it’s downright miserable. Fact is that the Larimer county mandate does not require that a mask be worn during exercising ifit inhibits the participants ability to participate. However, we do require amask indoors and we ask all individuals to be responsible for theirs and distancing.

What’s most important, is that the gyms and indoor facilities need you to return. Not only for your own health and wellness, but for their financial success. Every membership that returns gives our businesses a chance to survive. Currently, between 25 to 30 percent ofmembers have returned and that won’t keep the doors open for long. It’s time to get back to your gym!

MedX / Courtesy photo Lauren Davis, Exercise Science Intern from Ball State, makes sure every machine is wiped down between every member.