Allentown, PA. October 9, 2014 – The City of Allentown’s new LifeTrail Club walking site is up and running. Mayor Ed Pawlowski hosted a kick-off event this morning at Trexler Park.
The Department of Parks and Recreation first established the LifeTrail Club at Cedar Creek Parkway in May 2011. The addition of this second walking site at Trexler Park will expand LifeTrail Club membership and encourage regular physical activity.
The LifeTrail Club currently sports more than 450 members.
Information was distributed at today’s event on how to join the LifeTrail Club, which is free and open to all members of the community age 50 years and older. Members sign-up through the department office and are given a “key tab” to click in each time they use the LifeTrail. The club tracks participation at both locations and hosts monthly meetings with guest speakers on various health topics. Monthly raffle prizes are awarded at these meetings as incentives to use the LifeTrail often and maintain an active lifestyle.
The LifeTrail is comprised of a series of 10 wellness stations along a paved walking trail in Cedar Creek Parkway. The trail was installed as part of park improvements, and provides an opportunity for free, outdoor exercise designed for adults age 50 and over. Each station has an activity that has been developed to address the major components of a well-rounded fitness program for adults 50 years and older.
“The LifeTrail provides a tremendous resource for Allentown’s older adults by offering an outlet for physical activity and socialization in a beautiful, natural setting,” said Pawlowski. “The expansion to Trexler Park doubles the exercise opportunities for participants.”
Interim Parks Director Vicky Kistler said, “Membership has been growing steadily since the program was started nearly three-and-a-half years ago. Many municipalities have a gap in recreation programming for older residents. We are pleased that the city is able offer programs like the LifeTrail Club to reach this important segment of our population.”
Seniors can join the LifeTrail Club by calling the Department of Parks & Recreation at 610-437-7750.
Additionally, the city has recently become a partner with the CDC’s Million Hearts Initiative, a national campaign to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. The Health Bureau will be supporting this goal through promotion of healthy lifestyle choices and awareness of the Million Hearts initiative. That goes right along with the LifeTrail program of increasing physical activity to help meet the goal of preventing heart attacks and strokes.
