West Monroe hosts free fitness event to get kids playing outside again
City leaders say children are losing the ability to play outdoors, impacting physical and mental health
WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Spring Break typically means more hours in front of screens, but West Monroe is trying to change that pattern by bringing families back to the trails.
The city hosted its Spring Youth Fitness Day on Wednesday at Highland Park Wetland Trails, a free event designed to remind children how to play outside and show parents why it matters.
“We think that our children forget how to play, particularly outdoors,” said Courtney Hornsby, chief of staff for the City of West Monroe. “And we know that outdoor play in particular is so important for a child’s health, not just their physical health, but their holistic health, their mental well-being.”
The event ran from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Otis Street parking lot, where city staff partnered with The Wellness Center and West Monroe Sports & Events facility to set up fitness challenges, games and equipment demonstrations.
Between stations, parents stepped in alongside their children, participating in activities like tug of war rather than watching from the sidelines.
“It’s so fun to watch the children running, laughing, playing,” Hornsby said. “The parents themselves who were out playing with them because we know children love the attention. They love to interact. They love to play. And when they see those role models out there playing with them, I think that they just are laughing and smiling and having such a great time.”
Lillian Lataxes, who regularly runs 5Ks with her father, said children might be more motivated to exercise if their families joined them.
“Me and my dad do it. We run 5Ks,” said Lataxes. When asked if other kids would go outside more with their families, she said yes.
The morning included visits from the West Monroe Police and Fire Departments. Volunteers demonstrated outdoor fitness equipment recently installed along the trail through a grant from the Living Well Foundation.
Hornsby said the event serves a dual purpose, teaching children how to use the equipment while encouraging families to exercise together.
“This also encourages our students, our children, and their parents to learn how to do it, how to use the equipment, and how to exercise together,” she said. “It’s good for adults to remember how to play every once in a while, get outside and run and remember what that’s like. It’s good for our health as well.”
The event was open to all ages, and attendees were encouraged to bring bicycles or scooters to ride along the trail.
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