By Louis Hoglund
Perham is known for many things, and now, health and fitness is another aspect that will help put the community on the map.
City staff and councilmembers are looking into the Governors Fit City Program.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is looking for fit-friendly commitments by community leaders and elected officials to qualify for the Fit City designation. Among the attributes of a Fit City are:
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---cohesive system of parks and trails, incorporating neighborhood parks
---Support recreation programs that encourage active living
---Ensure that physical activity facilities are accessible and affordable.
---Locate schools in walkable neighborhoods or create walkable routes to existing schools
---Increase measures for pedestrian and bicyclist safety
Another Fit City goal is that citizens accumulate at least 30 minutes of activity each day--including walking, biking, exercise, playing in parks, working the yard, and using recreational facilities.
After reviewing the information, I believe we can meet the required criteria, wrote city administrative assistant Fern Nundahl in a report to the council. The city has contributed to a number of projects that support healthy lifestyles...Perham Area Community Center, summer recreations, golf course, Arvig Park (baseball, softball soccer) and the bike trail.
If the application is approved, the city will place signs that call attention to the governors Fit City designation--similar to Star City and Tree City designations.
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This designation, along with our determination to provide our residents with endless recreational options makes Perham a great place to live,work and play, concluded Nundahl.
Site near food shelf eyed for skate park
A site near the Perham Area Food Shelf and the city tennis courts is the frontrunning location for a proposed hockey and skateboard facility.,
Perham park board officials and the newly formed youth hockey group have narrowed in on the site because it is large enough for multi-use purposes. The location could also be considered as a trailhead for bicycle and future recreational trails.
The park board had been considering two other locations: The fairgrounds, which would require substantial restructuring. The other was the new Clear Water Estates residential development in southwest Perham--but it would probably be two years before the site could be developed.
Park and hockey officials hope to have something in place by fall of 2006
