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City Council Memorandum <br />TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: July 26, 2011 <br />FROM: MAYOR LOVERIDGE ITEM NO: 19 <br />WARD: ALL <br />SUBJECT: FIT, FRESH, & FUN FORUM <br />161'411 4 <br />As reported in the media, Riverside has a variety of health and fitness related challenges. <br />Time after time, our Inland Southern California region has neared the top of the list for <br />many serious issues including obesity, physical inactivity, heart disease, diabetes, and <br />more. <br />The Riverside Renaissance upgraded and expanded our park system to new levels <br />allowing the City to offer more athletic and fitness programming for all age levels. <br />However, as a City we need to look at a comprehensive approach to supporting our <br />residents' fitness and physical wellbeing. <br />Therefore, we propose to start, a Fit, Fresh, & Fun Forum task force to address such <br />topics as nutrition and exercise, community gardens, and fun active lifestyles including <br />walking and bicycling, all of which will make Riverside a more vibrant, active, and healthy <br />community. <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br />That the City Council: <br />1. Receive and file this report. <br />2. Receive semi - annual updates from The Forum. <br />BACKGROUND <br />In 2010 the American College of Sports Medicine's American Fitness Index ranked the <br />Riverside Metropolitan Area 36 out of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the nation <br />relative to health and community fitness. Their study reviewed everything from the <br />quantity of parkland and bicycle/ walking to work rates, to the percentage of residents with <br />diabetes and coronary heart disease. <br />19 -1 <br />