By Kathy Chouteau
Got something that ails you? The City of Richmond’s Community Services/Recreation Department has just the remedy: A day outside at Nicholl Park.
It’s all part of the City’s annual “Park Rx Day” Saturday, April 25, when from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the community is invited “for a day with nature at the park to improve your health and well-being.” Families and friends are encouraged to come out to get active while learning about local health resources.
Joining the City in supporting Park Rx Day are partners: Kaiser Permanente, Contra Costa Health and Parks Make Life Better, a campaign of the California Park & Recreation Society.
A whole host of wellness activities are planned, including fitness classes like free Zumba, yoga and more, according to Uzo Nwadugbo of The Black Neighborhood, which is participating in the event with a produce giveaway at the onsite Ms. Faye’s Farmers Market. He said sports activities and games like a rock climbing wall and human hamster ball, kick ball and more will be available.
Nwadugbo added that health professionals from Kaiser and Contra Costa Health will be on hand to offer health advice. Free lunch for community members will also be included.
As for The Black Neighborhood, Nwadugbo said the nonprofit will be at Nicholl Park giving away enough produce at the Farmers Market for 100-plus families, with the mix including onions, potatoes, tomatoes, rice, beans, apples, oranges and lettuce to help stock kitchens with healthy food.
The nonprofit leader emphasized that “the whole point of the day is not only to get the community out and at the park, but it’s also about health and well-being, and in getting knowledgeable [about] those things.”
He added that a day at Nicholl Park can help people learn about the resources available to them in the community. Nwadugbo believes that half the battle is being knowledgeable about what’s available to you, especially in a time of need such as now, when the price of groceries, healthcare and more is going up. “Just having the access and the knowledge about those things, I think, can improve the community tenfold.”
Find Park Rx Day at Nicholl Park, 3230 Macdonald Ave. in Richmond. Questions? Contact the City at 510-620-6793 or visit @richmondcsd on Facebook and Instagram.
