Community leaders from across Lincoln gathered this week at the Lincoln Bike Kitchen to unveil an action plan designed to improve youth fitness, sports access and physical activity opportunities across the city.
The plan was inspired by data that revealed decreasing rates of students in grades 4-8 successfully completing an aerobic capacity test called the PACER. The overall pass rate fell from 74.9% in 2018-19 to 67.5% in 2023-24. Lincoln’s goal is that 80% of youth pass the test.
The Youth Fitness Sports and Opportunities Task Force was created by the Community Health Endowment and they came up with several key solutions to get kids healthy and stay healthy. “This is more than a report, it’s a call to action,” says Kate Bolz, President/CEO of the Community Health Endowment.
“Every child in Lincoln should have the opportunity to move, play, and thrive. The recommendations in this report offer a roadmap for getting there.” Wednesday’s event represented the culmination of a nine-month collaborative effort by more than 30 local leaders from Lincoln Public Schools, the City of Lincoln, Bryan Health, local nonprofits, funders, coaches, and youth.
The report includes five key recommendations:
Create a Backbone Organization: Establish a central body to drive efforts, secure funding, and measure progress.
Expand Fitness Opportunities in Schools and Early Childhood: Enhance physical activity in early childhood, strengthen K-12 programming, and promote collaboration between schools and families.
Increase Community-Based Fitness Access: Support neighborhood-based opportunities by creating equipment banks, hosting fitness events, and reducing access barriers.
Promote physical activity through health providers: Encourage healthcare professionals to “prescribe” fitness and educate families about available resources.
Improve Access to Public Facilities: Revise agreements between Lincoln Public Schools and the City of Lincoln to promote equitable access to gyms, fields, and other amenities.
