Archived News Release: December 30, 2015 - City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services announce a new partnership with the Michigan Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) designed to encourage citizens to use community parks, trails and recreation amenities to be physically active. This partnership is made possible through a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
"Michigan's parks and recreation departments offer a variety of parks, facilities and programs," said MRPA Chief Operating Officer Ann Conklin. "These amenities provide affordable and accessible destinations for physical activity, and are uniquely positioned to contribute directly to resident health and wellness. We are thrilled to partner with City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation, to further improve resident physical activity and health."
Through the partnership, City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services will be providing two programs: A2 Park Passport and A2 Active Aging Adults. These programs will provide youth, families and seniors exposure to positive experiences, active lifestyles and opportunities to gain life skills improving health and fitness.
The A2 Park Passport provides a great opportunity to discover healthy and fun activities in the parks. Available from January to October 2016 are 700 A2 Park Passports with each passport providing one FREE golf, boat, swim and ice skate at a City of Ann Arbor park facility.
The A2 Park Passport free activities include:
- 9 holes of golf or FootGolf at Huron Hills Golf Course.
- 1 canoe, kayak or paddleboat (two hour stillwater) boat rental at Argo or Gallup Canoe Livery.
- 1 admission for swimming at Mack, Fuller, Veterans Memorial or Buhr Park pools.
- 1 admission for ice skating at Buhr Park Outdoor or Veterans Memorial Park indoor ice arenas.
The A2 Park Passport total value is $40, and the program is open to everyone, while supplies last. Included with the passport is a map to discover some of Ann Arbor's best hiking trails. The A2 Park Passports are available to pick up at any of the City of Ann Arbor park facilities during open hours.
Upon completion of the A2 Park Passports, all will receive a prize as a reward for being fit and having fun throughout the seasons in the parks. Completed passports will be entered in a drawing to win one of the grand prizes: 2017 season pass to a City of Ann Arbor park facility of your choice.
The A2 Park Passport program (swimming, paddling a kayak/canoe, golfing the wee tees, ice skating and taking a hike in a natural area) offers an introduction to healthy activities, to learn new skills and to try these activities at no cost.
As part of this program there are also two eight-week courses to promote healthy activity by encouraging older adults, 50 and older, to use parks for physical activities, to learn new active skills, meet new people and improve fitness and overall well being. More details to follow.
To pick up your passport and learn more about this program, attend a free kick-off event on the following Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. at Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena (2751 Packard Road), Feb. 6; and Mack Indoor Pool (715 Brooks St. inside Ann Arbor Open School), March 19. Learn more about the A2 Park Passport and the A2 Active Aging Adult programs by visiting http://www.a2gov.org/parks.
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