Published on March 22, 2011

Let's Move Davenport Gets Moving For 2011

The third graders of Eisenhower School in Davenport led by example today by getting moving to fight obesity at the first anniversary event of Let's Move Davenport.

Let's Move Davenport is a collaboration of government, non-government entities and businesses with a focus on fighting childhood obesity.

In 2010, Davenport joined First Lady Michelle Obama in the Let's Move campaign to tackle the challenge of childhood obesity by taking small steps on a long journey to solve the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.

To celebrate the first anniversary, the Let's Move Davenport partners got together with 75 third graders from Eisenhower school today at River's Edge.  The children participated in heart-pumping and fun activities, enjoyed a healthy lunch and learned about the importance of nutrition and exercise.

"When we started this initiative nearly a year ago, we understood that it would require cooperation and participation by a number of groups over a period of years to have a real impact on childhood obesity,'' said Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba.  "But one of the surprises was how much we were already doing that can help us in this effort.

"It is just a matter of pulling together all of the groups and individuals who are already making a difference.''

Let's Move Davenport, a collaboration of numerous entities and organizations, provides children and parents with the support they need to live more physically active, healthy lives with access to affordable foods.

While the goal is long-range, there was progress throughout the first year of Let's Move Davenport.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Schools have convened a wellness committee and drafted a new school wellness policy the school board is considering
• Let's Move Davenport hosted five large community events with more than 2,500 children and families participating
• A Let's Move Davenport Facebook page was launched to update the community about health issues for families and upcoming events. The page has more than 550 followers
• The Mobile Playground of Davenport Parks and Recreation visited 15 sites last summer and more than 1,500 kids participated in events
• The Mobile Playground is adding two more sites this year
• A discounted Davenport Kids Pass was developed to encourage summer activities: swimming, ice skating and golf.  This year, the YMCA has been added as a partner
• More active sports camps and environmental camps are being added for the summer of 2011

The Mobile Playground, which is a decommissioned fire truck, takes fun and games to neighborhood parks.

"It will take more than a single event, or a single year to accomplish this ambitious goal,'' Mayor Gluba added.  "There is much more that we can do and this is just a start. But now we're moving."

For more information about Let's Move Davenport or the Mobile Park, call (563) 326-7812 or (563) 529-4160.

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