(Washington, DC) May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. To celebrate, DC Parks and Recreation will offer complimentary admission for DC residents to all fitness centers in recreation facilities throughout the city. Swimming at all aquatic facilities will also be free.
Wednesday, May 2 will be the official kick-off of DPR Fun and Fit Month at DPR Headquarters at 3149 16th Street, NW. Health screenings will begin at 9 am and will be followed by a press conference. At 10:15 am, Wanda S. Durden, DPR Interim Director, will lead a one-mile walk in the area.
DPR’s goal is to promote health and wellbeing for all District residents and to introduce ongoing DPR programs that foster continued activity for all ages. Each evening, selected recreation centers will host a variety of activities such as jump rope, line and hand dancing, family walking clubs, volleyball, rollerskating and teen “novelty-sports” night. Novelty sports are fun sports such as wheelbarrow and three-legged races, sack races, spoon races and free-throw contests.
“Parks and Recreation recognizes the importance of activity for all ages,” said Durden. “We are proud to introduce family walking clubs to promote healthy activity across generations, and a host of non-traditional activities for our residents.”
Other special events for the month of May include the Senior Olympics, which run from May 8–11, an adult open tennis tournament from May 24–27, and “Let’s Get Physical,” a citywide track meet on May 19.
DPR will partner with the Department of Health for some of the monthly activities.