In a push to make fitness a top priority among downtown residents, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is branching out its citywide FitPHX initiative with fitness-related events at Civic Space Park on the first Saturday of each month.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Olympic gold medalist Misty Hyman and City Councilman Daniel Valenzuela launched the FitPHX initiative in January.
Carmela Ramirez, the lead coordinator of “Civic Space Health Days,” the monthly fitness program at Civic Space Park, said participants are encouraged to pursue a healthy lifestyle when they come together with friends and are able to interact with people as they exercise. Ramirez said this is why Civic Space Park is a good central location for bringing members of the community together.
“I think we want a fit Phoenix … We want everyone to start being health-conscious,” Ramirez said. “When you bring people together to talk about ways to be healthy, it spreads through the community.”
The Civic Space Park event will feature organizations throughout the Phoenix community that will provide information on health-related topics. Alcoholics Anonymous, the South Phoenix Healthy Start Program, Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA, Women’s Health Coalition, La Frontera Arizona — EMPACT-SPC and Phoenix Center for the Arts will be represented at the event.
Ramirez said one challenge of “Civic Space Health Days” was finding food trucks to encourage healthy eating. One food option will be a healthy popsicle vendor in order to promote nutritious snacking, she said.
Hyman, a Phoenix native and one of the promoters of FitPHX, started swimming at Roadrunner Pool in north Phoenix when she was 5 after her doctor’s recommendation.
She was enthusiastic about starting FitPHX because downtown has become more supportive of fitness, she said.
“We’ve come from such a car culture,” she said, mentioning the addition of more bike lanes downtown.
Hyman added that Phoenix could still improve in the health of its residents.
“Phoenix is ranked 26th on the healthiest cities in the country,” Hyman said. “We thought it should be in the top 10, or at least towards the top.”
Hyman said she has been back in Phoenix for four years. After her performance at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, she has been teaching private lessons in Paradise Valley, working with fitness swimmers and triathletes, giving motivational speeches and traveling across the country teaching swim clinics.
“I’ve been enjoying giving back to the community that made me who I am,” Hyman said.
Hyman encouraged people to get involved with fitness, whatever their activity level.
“Personally, I think a lot of people who aren’t active think it’s intimidating or too hard,” she said. “Don’t think you have to be an Olympian to be fit.”
Lisa L. Derrick, director of the South Phoenix Healthy Start Program, expressed the importance of community outreach regarding health and wellness. The program, which is part of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, works to ensure that pregnant mothers have access to high-quality prenatal care.
“We do have nearly 20 different ZIP codes in the area who have high infant mortality rates and poor birth outcomes,” Derrick said. “It’s important to educate the community on (health) strategies.”
Derrick said the South Phoenix Healthy Start Program will have representatives at Civic Space Health Days to provide information on folic acid, prenatal care and obesity reduction and prevention.
“If we’re able to help maintain a healthy weight, reduce obesity, improve our levels of stress, have healthier relationships with the people around us (and) have good nutrition … it will help us to be able to build resiliency,” Derrick said. “All of it impacts the human body.”
The free events will take place on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parking will be limited. Ramirez suggests that participants take the light rail, bus or carpool.
Contact the reporter at emily.lierle@asu.edu
