By Chuck Meadows, Executive Director, Atlanta BeltLine Partnership
A big part of our mission at the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is to empower the residents of Atlanta BeltLine neighborhoods by working with partner organizations specifically in the areas of health, housing and hope: Promoting healthier lifestyles, pushing for inclusive housing options, and providing improved access to economic opportunity.
On a sunny April Saturday in historic Washington Park, we proved that promoting a healthier lifestyle can be lots of fun, too. The Washington Park Jamboree, the first event in our 2016 Neighborhood Festival Series, brought a wide array of food, music, and free, family-oriented activities to the terminus of the Westside Trail, currently under construction. Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, a provider of health care services and coverage, was the event’s lead sponsor.
The Washington Park Jamboree served as the official kick-off for the 2016 Atlanta BeltLine Free Fitness Series, and featured a variety of live fitness demonstrations led by professional instructors. B98.5 on-air personality and Atlanta BeltLine fitness ambassador Madison James was on hand to recognize the 2015 Atlanta BeltLine Active Lifestyle Award winner.
The first Atlanta BeltLine Play Day of the year rounded out a full offering of active fun for all age groups, with a variety of sports and healthy activities led by trained coaches. Play Days are delivered through our partnership with Atlanta ContactPoint, a nonprofit organization established to engage children and adults through the power of play.
The American Heart Association, AID Atlanta, the Atlanta Medical Center and a host of clinical staff from healthcare providers were also on hand to provide free onsite screenings and checkups. There was also a healthy eating area where attendees had access to fresh produce from local growers and healthy cooking demonstrations.
The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is grateful to the following generous sponsors for their support of this year’s Washington Park Jamboree: Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, Atlanta Medical Center, Trees Atlanta, Fitwit, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Mercedes Benz and Walmart. The ABP’s health and fitness series sponsors include Cigna, CBS EcoMedia, REI, Healthways, and Play Day sponsors NEEF and Toyota.
