The following is a great example of how partnership, programming and persistence can pay off in the fight against obesity. Thank you to the Oak Lawn Park District for sharing their success story with us.

In 2004 the Oak Lawn Park District began addressing the issue of obesity. To better serve the residents, the park director developed a healthy living program for the staff. Her philosophy was to lead by example. This “healthy living club” met once per month to discuss health, wellness, fitness and proper nutrition. The park district staff has since carried over these ideas into the seasonal programs offered by the Oak Lawn Park District.

The park district even revised the mission statement to reflect this new philosophy: Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for all ages, abilities, and ethnic backgrounds by offering a variety of leisure services that will promote physical and mental wellness.

With the rise in childhood obesity, the Oak Lawn Park District has been actively working for several years to combat this epidemic. Specific youth health and fitness programs have been implemented incorporating the message of proper nutrition and exercise throughout already established programs.

We recently partnered with Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital to develop a youth health and fitness program called Hope for Fitness. This program was specifically designed to promote a healthy lifestyle. Participants sign-up for this program though the hospital where they go through an orientation. Each 8-week session meets at the Oak Lawn Park District’s Oak View Center for a 2-hour class (1 day per week). The first hour is spent with the parents & participants and Hope Hospital staff, which include a nutritionist, counselor, dietician and a physician. The second hour is spent with a park district fitness instructor.

The Oak Lawn Park District offers a variety of fitness programs for all ages and abilities as well as programs specifically designed for children. Two of these programs are Silly Willy Workout and Parent and Child Workout. Silly Willy Workout is geared for children ages 3-5 and helps develop an early interest in fitness. Children learn the fundamentals of fitness through hopping, jumping and galloping. The Parent and Child Workout program is geared for children ages 7 and up with a parent and focuses on toning and aerobic workouts.

In addition to regular fitness programs, this summer we will be offering two new programs - Commit To Be Fit Health and Fitness Camp and Making W.A.V.E.S.

The Commit To Be Fit Health and Fitness Camp is a 5-week camp that is designed, for youths ages 10 -17, to develop life-long healthy habits. Participants learn about proper nutrition and exercise. Each participant will also receive a fitness band, jump rope and education handouts.

Making W.A.V.E.S. (Weight, Attitude, Visualize, Energetic, Stay) is a one-hour class that is half educational & fun workshops and half water aerobics class for kids. Participants will learn and participate in healthy ways to lose Weight, change their Attitude on fitness, Visualize a healthy lifestyle, learn ways to become more Energetic and Stay fit & healthy.

Healthy living is a life long commitment and the Oak Lawn Park District administration and staff prides themselves in their commitment to enhance the quality of life for all the residents of Oak Lawn.

Keep up the great work and if others of you have success stories you’d like to share please email them to IPRA.