Southport Magazine

Oak Island’s parks are open again, and they hold a nice little surprise. If you’ve been eating your way through this pandemic, or if you’d just like to try to stay in the best shape possible but aren’t quite sure how to design an exercise regime, the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Center staff has you covered! Nestled inside three of Oak Island’s parks are fitness trails. They are part exercise and part scavenger hunt—you’ll have to look for the little signs showing you what to do.

We love this idea. It not only gets you active, but it gets you out of the house and shows off some of the incredible beauty found on Oak Island. We spoke to Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department Director Rebecca Squires about the fitness trails and how she and her staff are continuing to reach the community.

Where did the idea for the fitness trails come from? Is this something you came up with in-house?

Yes, we came up with the idea in-house. Because we have (had) such an active exercise class menu for all ages and abilities, many of the regulars were struggling with staying active, even with our online class offerings. Since the trails and parks were the new fitness centers, we came up with the idea to challenge folks while walking on the trails — the exercises mixed with their walking would give them a great work out.

How many parks are involved? Which ones? About how many stops per park?

We have fitness trails in Veterans Park on Yacht Drive at E. 14th St., the Nature Center Trail on Yacht Drive at E. 52nd St., and the Overlook Trail behind the Recreation Center on Oak Island Drive at E. 30th St. There are 10 stops per site.

Are the exercises geared towards a particular fitness level? Can children participate?

The exercises are designed for all fitness levels. A suggested number of reps is on each card, but you can do what your body allows.

What do you see as the importance of exercise right now, maybe even more so than normal times?

Many of the doctors reporting on the coronavirus have urged folks to continue, or begin, an exercise routine as it strengthens the body’s immune system and could prevent or help ease symptoms if you catch the virus. Plus, exercise is a natural stress reducer, and I think we all need that these days. Folks are so stressed about the virus, jobs, kids home from school, finances, and a host of other items. Exercise also increases your body’s metabolism and burns fat more efficiently, and with all the binge eating associated with the virus, we all need an increased metabolism!

Please feel free to share anything else you like.

Even though many of our programs have been shuttered because of the coronavirus, I think the pandemic has shed an even bigger light that the essential role of parks and recreation departments. Parks and trails have provided physical and mental health opportunities to our citizens, and traditional in-person activities have been shifted to virtual programs that still meet the needs of our community! A study by the National Recreation and Parks Association found that 83 percent of polled participants agree that visiting their local parks, trails, and open spaces is essential for their mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we move forward to re-opening, I believe that parks and recreation will provide the much needed recreational opportunities that bring our communities back together!