(Submitted by Bowling Green Parks and Recreation)
Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States and modern life is sedentary for kids as they spend more time playing with electronic devices than any generation before them. Experts state that youth should get one hour or more of moderate to vigorous exercise every day.
The Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department is excited to announce that we are taking steps to help fight against the growing epidemic of childhood obesity with policy changes to encourage children to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle. The long standing BG facility policy that required children under the age of 13 to be accompanied by an adult when visiting the Bowling Green Community Center is being amended to children ages 9 years and older are now permitted to be dropped off to use our facility without an adult accompanying them. Policies will be in effect to have them sign in on each visit and have emergency contact information on file at the front desk.
The Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department feels that this policy change will help encourage more healthy physical activity among the youth of Bowling Green while making the opportunity to do so more convenient to busy parents. When parents are available to do so, we still encourage them to visit the facility with their children and be active with their children, but now parents will have the opportunity to tend to their busy lives of running errands, transporting siblings to various activities, and keeping up with the demands of running a household while dropping their children off in a warm, welcoming, safe, and healthy environment. Or they will also have the opportunity to get their workouts in upstairs in the fitness center or in one of our adult fitness classes while their children play in the gymnasium nearby.
With these new policies in effect, the Bowling Green Community Center is excited in taking the lead of meeting the needs of our families and youth in our community. Our mission is to Enhance Lives Daily through parks, programs and facilities. With these changes, access to those facilities has become more convenient and steps towards a healthier future for youth and families has become more attainable.
The new policy will go in effect Jan. 2, 2019. So when deciding on where to pursue your 2019 New Year’s Resolutions of a healthier, more active lifestyle and enjoying more quality time together as a family, remember BG Community Center as your best choice in Bowling Green!
See some of what Bowling Green Community Center has to offer in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYzTH2D-BP4
