According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40.1% of Clinton County adult residents are obese. Over the past three years, over $65,000 of support and resources from the UK Cooperative Extension Programs to Reduce Obesity in High Obesity Areas (CDC-1416) has helped enhance the built environment of the community and expand opportunities for physical activity. 

The Clinton County Extension Office organized a Longest Day of Play event to create an awareness of physical activity opportunities available in the community and to encourage families to get outside and get moving. The Longest Day of Play is a celebration of the beginning of summer and took advantage of the extra daylight hours. The event was held at the Twin Lakes Family Wellness Center to highlight new youth playground equipment provided by the CDC-1416 program as well as providing families a free opportunity to swim at the center. Other activities included inflatables, hula hoops, dancing, hands-on games, rocket launchers, bowling, parachutes, frisbees, and much more. Participants also had a chance to make ice cream in a bag in celebration of National Dairy Month and participate in the summer feeding program. 

Adult family members participated in events alongside the children. 318 individuals including 144 youth participated in the inaugural event. Longest Day of Play is important because it brings children outside and away from computers and cell phones for a few hours. A parent commented “It was great getting to take a break from work and see so many families enjoying the day”.

The long term goal is that greater awareness of resources and infrastructure available in the community will lead to increased participation in physical activity not just during events such as the Longest Day of Play but hopefully for a lifetime.