Healthy Places Hosting Sunday Loopa-Palooza

Emily Neischburg

Emily Neischburg, Executive Director of Healthy Places, and organizer Renee Beebe, invited Lamar City Council members to the Sunday, October 18^th event to highlight the progress being made on the seven mile Lamar Loop. “We’ll be at Escondido Park from 2pm to 4pm this Sunday,” Neischburg said, adding that the event, the Loopapalooza, is open to the public for a fun event. Beebe said, “We’ll have free food and music and you can either walk a small representation of the Loop or bring your bike and ride around to get an idea of what the Loop will be like.” Pedestrian and bike lanes will be showcased for the public so local residents can get a general idea of what the Loop will look like. “It’s going to happen,” Neischburg declared, adding that Greater Outdoors Colorado has awarded the project $1 million which will accelerate the length of construction.

Healthy Places is entering the final year of a three year, million dollar grant that was awarded to the Lamar community following a series of studies and interviews conducted by the Colorado Health Foundation. The general goal is to develop healthy lifestyle alternatives for outdoor exercise and local residents, especially Lamar’s youth, which have a much higher-than-average obesity rate determined from statewide studies. Lamar was the only rural town that was chosen, which elevated it’s prominence to a national level of interest. Neischburg told the council Foundation members are returning for a progress review later this month in what is termed a Fall Fling and bringing several original panel members with them. Arvada and Westwood were two other communities selected for the grant and are sending representatives to observe developments.

Amache Studios

Amache Studios will host the two-day, invitation only gathering, October 27^th and 28^th and an agenda will be sent to those members of the Lamar community who have been invited. The Tuesday evening meeting will be held at Amache Studios but a picnic lunch is scheduled for Willow Creek Park the afternoon prior to the meeting. A similar picnic lunch is set for the 28^th at North Side Park to close the visit.

By Russ Baldwin