With our beautiful spring temperatures lately, it’s only appropriate that such themes as health and fitness are in the news this week.
First off, the Town of Fountain Hills officially dedicated and opened its first “Fountain Hills Integrated Trail” (FIT) this past Saturday. This first urban trail, named the Civic Center Trail, covers much of the downtown area and covers 3.2 miles over relatively level ground. This “trail” isn’t a hiking trail in the traditional sense – it follows existing streets and sidewalks in a loop pattern that begins and ends in Fountain Park.
Several other FIT trails are envisioned, a relatedly inexpensive option designed to increase awareness among residents about exercise, the outdoors, our natural beauty and the opportunity to get out and do something besides write letters to the editor.
Kudos to town officials for getting something like this off the ground.
This “active lifestyle” trend continues this weekend with the first ever “Cyclovia” in downtown Fountain Hills on Saturday. This family event is designed to encourage the public to walk, ride bikes, rollerblade, play and socialize. The Avenue and parts of Saguaro Blvd. will be closed to traffic. There will be entertainment, demonstrations, food and more. Bands will perform in Fountain Park in the evening. C’mon on out and participate.
We also extend a big welcome to the personnel associated with the American Trails International Trails Symposium, being held Sunday through Wednesday at the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort. The Fort McDowell tribe and the Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell Visitors Bureau have been working with organizers to make this an awesome convention for everyone involved.
More than 500 trail administrators from across the country and at least nine foreign countries will be congregating. We welcome them to the area and encourage them to spend some in Fountain Hills while here.
