Now that Spring weather has arrived, Patchogue-Medford School District is gearing up to promote physical fitness in the schools and community alike. After a lengthy push from the Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Student Health Services, Thomas J. Combs, funding for outdoor fitness equipment was appropriated from the district budget. Currently, the schools in the district that have installed fitness trails at Patchogue-Medford High School, Medford Elementary, Eagle Elementary and South Ocean Middle School; all other schools are expected to have the equipment installed within the next year. Director Combs had this to say, “We are hoping this new equipment will create a sense of excitement and fun while also keeping in mind an understanding of promoting physical fitness for life.”  The trails are designed to allow students and community members to get fresh air while working out; and, according to sciencedaily.com, “compared with exercising indoors, exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression.”

Patchogue-Medford high school is excited to display the eight fitness stations to work out every part of the body while on a walk around the entire perimeter of the back field. Dr. Rusielewicz, principal of the high school reinforces the school’s excitement stating, “I am very excited about the new outdoor fitness equipment that has been installed at the high school.” Furthermore, the fitness equipment will become part of the rotation of physical education classes; once again Dr. Rusielewicz states, “Our teachers are also excited about having another “tool” in their belts as another option to reinforce a lifetime of being healthy.”

The equipment, sourced from Outdoor Fitness Inc., includes eight of their forty-five products and will be maintained throughout the year by the routine maintenance crew at the schools. The equipment that has been installed is light green and purple, and although not the school colors, the only other option was hunter green which Director Combs states would appear “too dark and unseen” moving forward, the goal of the district is to promote the physical health of all students and the community. Here at the high school, the optimism regarding the fitness movement is reflected once again through the staff and Dr. Rusielewicz, stating, “It is our hope that students will be more motivated to try something new and continue to increase their awareness of the practice of being physically fit for the rest of their lives.” Due to cold weather the fitness trails have not reached their full potential, but as the warm weather approaches, they will become more and more valuable.

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Photo by Louis Walker

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