Free Fitness

Maybe you're like me and find yourself carrying a few extra kilos after winter. Maybe you're a little less flexible than you used to be. Shedding those few kilos and improving flexibility can be a challenge, but there is good news. You've actually already paid the membership fee to a suberb fitness club - our city's recreational facilities. Yes, through your rates you have access to an amazing range of activities most of which are free or low cost.

There are 49 km of walkways in the city with about 5 km added to the total each year. These provide great access to our rivers and streams, reserves and the Lagoon. Walking these regularly can strip the kilos off you, and if you have one, your dog.

There are 17 km of dedicated cycle tracks and paths in the city, plus 34 km of roads with cycle lanes. And each year we're adding another 5 km. If you don't have a bike, don't worry, just ring the Green Bike Trust and collect a good "recycled" one for free (and they are no longer green!). There are over a thousand to give away.

One reason for the rising kilo count is the 3% increase in the number of people travelling to work by car - 21,000 per day. Nationally, only 7 % of the population walk, jog or cycle to work but in Palmerston North 13% do. Well done! Personally, I find there is nothing better than climbing on my bike and discovering that I can commute around the city easier and often faster than in a vehicle. And there are no parking fees or fines, and no worry about the rising petrol prices!

If you prefer, you can visit one of our 195 grass playing fields or 95 non-grass fields (e.g. netball or tennis courts). Kick a ball, throw a frisbee, walk, jog or have a game of tennis. It's all free and accessible.

The Featherston Street Pit Park is being developed and it's a great area to wander around. There are community groups who are doing the planting in partnership with the Council and they would love a hand. This doubles as great stretching exercise! Throughout the city on our Council owned reserves and on private land, approximately 36,000 native plants have been planted on about 15 hectares of land. This year we'll be planting a further 9,000.

For the slightly more adventurous, take that car and drive to the end of the Kahuterawa Road to access the Sledge Track, the Back Track and the new Hardings Park Recreational Area. There are over 171 hectares to explore. I've done this for years and it's a brilliant way to entertain the children and the grandchildren. Get's them fitter, away from the TV and computer and in touch with their marvellous world.

If we're ever in doubt about the importance of establishing healthy activity in our children, recently 424 ten year olds were tested for fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, catching, throwing, skipping and balance. These skills should have been mastered by the age of seven. Of the 424 children tested only 17 passed the test and only two of them were girls!

People with special needs are also catered for. Approximately 22% of the city's population have some form of disability so gradually the Council is upgrading access to recreational facilities and improving our footpaths to ensure they are user friendly and safe for all in the city.

Sport Manawatu has a goal to increase the physical activity of people in the region by 5 % over the next three years. Over two thirds of the people in the Manawatu are physically active (based on an international standard of 2.5 hours of physical activity per week). Thirty minutes a day of moderate activity would do wonders for most of us. To help us achieve this, Palmerston North has an excellent range of facilities and all paid for by our rates.

So, for improved fitness and flexibility try "Young Heart, Easy Living" Manawatu!