Being that poor diet and physical inactivity are the number two leading actual causes of death, we believe that having a public place where people can come and exercise is very important to public health. This is why we chose to place our sticker on the fitness trail at Copeland Park. Located in the inner-city area of Tampa off of Fowler Avenue, Copeland Park provides a nature trail which can be used for walking, jogging, roller blading, or biking. Along the trail are various stations which provide equipment for different exercises, which work different parks of the body. For example, the station we took our picture at has monkey bars, which are excellent for building arm strength. Each station provides instructions for different exercises that can be performed on the equipment, making it more accessible for people who don’t know a lot about exercise and fitness, and also promoting safety so that the equipment isn’t used improperly which could result in injury. Since not everyone can afford a gym membership, we believe that free access to amenities like this can be very beneficial to society. Obesity related health problems such as heart disease and diabetes are very common, and a lot of the time they can be prevented by our behaviors, such as by leading a healthy lifestyle which includes proper diet and exercise. Not only is this nature trail better than going to the gym because it’s free, but it also allows you to enjoy sunlight and fresh air which many people neglect in today’s technology based society. Furthermore, it is known that exercise elevates mood by releasing endorphins, so if more people take advantage of trails like these, we may be on our way to a happier, healthier community!
By: Alexa Fernandez, Antinia Taylor, David Aristil, Natasha Salazar, Klaus Laleau, and Quintensia Gaitan-Harris
Great idea!! Parks and fitness trails are an excellent opportunity for citizens to get some fresh air, exercise and even have some fun. I agree that most people cannot afford a gym membership and these parks provide them an opportunity to improve their health. Our country has been hit with an obesity epidemic over the past years and exercise is a big part in the fight against it. It’s nice to see a “free” place to exercise within our city. That is Public Health!!!
ReplyDeleteI believe it that exercise is a very important part of being healthy. Eating nutritional food is important but so is exercise. The public park provides a safe and rich exercise-filled environment for all ages. People can take walks, ride bikes, play sports, etc. Parents can bring their children to play on the playground and that way everyone in the family can be active. By staying physically active, people are less likely to gain weight and therefore reduce their risk of certain health problems later on in life.
ReplyDeleteThe picture with you guys hanging off the monkey bars is hilarious! This is a great example of public health! Where else would you be able to find a nature trail, exercise stations, and beautiful summer breeze all together for free? I would love to visit this park one day. I never knew it existed. Public Health really is everywhere and we take it for granted all the time. Awesome choice guys!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great choice of a public health issue! Your opening statement about the obesity among children is most definitely an issue all around the United States. It seems as though parks and recreations are rarely being used and/or disappearing. Especially free parks with nature trails. I visit a park on Fletcher with nature trails but it has an entrance fee. Parks and recreation are a great way to get the children out and exercise without being in a gym. It is a laid back and fun atmosphere. I really enjoyed reading your post and your pictures are creative, too!
ReplyDeletePaula Saunders