LITTLE ROCK — A neighborhood association that’s trying to improve Little Rock’s Hindman Park plans a 5K fundraiser at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Norm Berner says the Meadowcliff/Brookwood Neighborhood Association plans its first 5K Race to Indianapolis to raise money to send delegates to the 2012 Neighborhoods USA Conference in Indianapolis.
That national organization conducts an annual contest among neighborhood associations, which Berner dearly wants to win. The group entered last year, placing fourth.
The 5K will use a new, certified 3.1-mile course (measured by veteran race director Bill Torrey) within the park. Racers will scamper through Hindman Golf Course, crossing eight bridges along the way. They will compete for the usual age-division awards (90 of them), but there will also be three contests for city employees: police officers, firefighters, and nonuniformed employees, with male and female divisions.
The park is at the end of West 65th St. in southwestern Little Rock. Besides the golf course, it offers a nine-hole disc golf course; a pavilion; picnic tables; restrooms; drinking fountains; a fishing pond; four trails open to foot and mountain bike traffic; a playground; a ballfield with lights; a climbing crag; and courts for basketball, tennis and grass volleyball.
Registration is $20 ($25 on race day). Entry forms can be downloaded from arkansasrunner.com, and online registration is at getmeregistered.com.
More information is at meadowcliffbrookwood.org
Sunken Lands
The third annual Tour duh Sunken Lands Fall Harvest Bike Ride will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, 117 S. Main St. in Tyronza.
A project of the Sunken Lands Regional Chamber of Commerce, the 52-mile bicycle tour is not a race. Any cyclist is welcome to ride. The cost is $25, which includes a T-shirt.
You can do the entire 52-mile route or take a shortcut and stop at 45 miles.
Registration will open at 9 a.m. The ride will start promptly at 10 a.m.
Registration forms and maps can be downloaded at stfm.astate.edu.
The winners are ...
The Arkansas Governor’s Council on Fitness and Baptist Health recently presented the 2011 Leadership in Fitness Awards.
According to Gina Pharis, an awards coordinator, the annual honors recognize:
An individual or organization that demonstrates a commitment to the promotion of physical activity and health.
An individual or organization that serves as a role model epitomizing personal health and fitness and demonstrating enjoyment of activity and sportsmanship.
The winners are:
Individual, Robyn House Whitehead
As director of the Arkansas State University Department of Wellness and Health Promotion, she leads wellness programs for 1,500 employees, retirees and their spouses and leads the university wellness council.
Senior, Jeanie Pierson
Pierson is a volunteer yoga teacher at the Patrick Henry Hayes Senior Citizens Center in North Little Rock.
Physical educator, Michele Brown
Brown is a full-time P.E. teacher at Lamar Elementary in Lamar, works on her school district wellness committee and is the district’s coordinated school health administrator.
Group Leadership, The Spa Pacers
The running club in Hot Springs organizes free training clinics, weekly organized runs and social events and conducts the annual Spa 10K.
Trails, Pine Bluff Saracen Landing
Beside Lake Saracen, the Landing includes a multipurpose trail and farmers market and is home to many organized walks, healthful food demonstrations and other wellness activities.
Health and fitness club, Searcy Athletic Club
The White County club offers many programs, including Zumba, yoga, racquetball, swimming, Body Pump and SilverSneakers.
Government agency, Arkansas State University
The Jonesboro university’s Department of Wellness and Health
Built environment, Batesville
The city has four parks for baseball, softball and soccer, municipal swimming pools and children’s playgrounds and public trails.
School, Harrisburg Middle School
The school supports PE4Life Core Principles, uses the Spark curriculum and has increased time allotted for student P.E. from 60 to 135 minutes per week.
Corporation, Trane Arkansas
Trane gives employees cash incentives to encourage behavior that improves personal health.
ActiveStyle, Pages 26 on 10/31/2011