- April 15, 2024
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Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin begins 2023's Mayor's 30/30 with a a walk at Central Park in Town Center. Photo courtesy of Palm Coast Parks and Recreation
Mayor's 30/30 Kick-Off Walk. Photo courtesy of Palm Coast Parks and Recreation
Mayor's 30/30 Kick-Off Walk. Photo courtesy of Palm Coast Parks and Recreation
Mayor's 30/30 Kick-Off Walk. Photo courtesy of Palm Coast Parks and Recreation
Mayor's 30/30 Kick-Off Walk. Photo courtesy of Palm Coast Parks and Recreation
The city of Palm Coast is kicking off another year of the Mayor's 30/30 Challenge.
The annual challenge, which has primarily focused on physical fitness in past years, is taking a broader scope for 2023, according to a press release from the city of Palm Coast. This year, participants are encouraged to dedicate 30 minutes everyday for the next 30 days to focus on their overall health and wellness, from exercise to self-care and stress relief. It will run from Jan. 6 to Feb. 4.
“The beginning of a new year is a great time for a fresh start and a fresh outlook on your overall personal wellness,” Director of Parks and Recreation James Hirst said.
The program hopes to start residents off on the right foot for the year, the press release said. While participants can work on their own chosen 30-minute activity each day, the city has also put together a series of official community activities for the month-long event.
Starting on the first day, Jan. 6, the city is hosting a "Kick-Off Walk" from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Central Park. The other activities will be held over the next 30 days, culminating in the Tunnel To Towers 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 8 a.m, the press release said. Residents can register for activities online at the city's website.
Palm Coast's Parks and Recreation staff are hosting the activities, the release said, and have worked to incorporate all aspects of wellness into this year's challenge.
Kim Brown, Palm Coast's Parks and Recreation coordinator of marketing, said the shift from a sole physical-fitness focus to overall health stems from mounting supporting evidence that mental health and nature exposure are connected.
"We are realizing more and more that mental health plays a large part in quality of life," Brown said.
A recent study from the National Recreation and Park Association shows that nature and parks have a positive effect on mental health, Brown said, and it is already supported physical activity can also help improve a person's mental health.
Brown said the challenge's divergence from the standard physical-focus is in part the first step in expanding overall wellness as a city initiative.
"The hope is four this to grown into a city-wide initiative for an over-all, year-long commitment to residents' health," Brown said.
But even for those who don't want to participate in a physical activity, she said, Parks and Recreation has a strong core program that also offers craft activities, or residents can try something out at home. The point is to carve out time for self reflection and "indulge in something that satisfies the soul," Brown said.
This year's challenge hopes to cater to that by encouraging participants to take stock in their overall health by dedicating 30 minutes of their time each day.
“Whether that’s taking part in a nature walk, taking your dog for a walk, going to a yoga class or playing in our Pickleball tournament," Hirst said, "we wanted to make this year’s event something that was accessible to everyone and help them develop good habits that they can continue to use throughout 2023 and beyond.”
