A new and exciting way of encouraging families to get out and exercise together has been launched by Limerick Sports Partnership in conjunction with Healthy Limerick. Adventure Walks Limerick Smartphone App encourages parents and their children to walk, jog or run up to 2.5 km around Limerick City and County Parks, while playing a treasure hunt game.
The ten trails featured on the free app include adventures specifically designed for families with children aged between 6 and 14 but can be used by people of all ages.
The treasure hunts are available in:
- Adare Village Park
- The Demesne, Newcastle West
- Mungret Park
- People’s Park
- Croom Town Park
- Baggot Estate Park
- Abbeyfeale Park
- Castletroy Neighbourhood Park
- Curraghchase Forest Park
- O’Brien’s Park
The project has received funding under the Healthy Ireland Local Community Development Committee National Programme. In additional to the 10 parks already launched, two more are in development - Lough Gur and Kilmallock.
All that’s required is that you download the App, pick a celebrity to help find a trophy, lost keys or a code, and enjoy running, walking or jogging around the park to find the hidden treasures.
Answer a question and you will be directed to your next hidden treasure. The App is about creating awareness, having fun together and getting all ages, levels and abilities to be active in local parks.
Mo Foley-Walsh of Healthy Limerick said, “Innovations like the Adventure Walks Limerick App are wonderful examples of the collaborative initiatives led by Limerick Sports Partnership in order to get more and more people up, out and active in Limerick and it is thanks to Healthy Ireland funding that the Adventure Walks Limerick App has become a reality.”
Phelim Macken, Coordinator, Limerick Sports Partnership added: “Anyone who is a parent or guardian of young children knows the issues we have in getting our children to walk any distance. We are also aware of the growing problem with sedentary behaviour and obesity within the country. Some of this sedentary behaviour is due to screen time. With this in mind, we have decided to use screen time to solve the problem.”
“The Adventure Walks Limerick App is a great tool for all the population to use and to get up, out and about. We all need to be more active in our everyday lives as sedentary behaviour is now recognised as the fourth leading cause of premature death in Ireland and across the world. With the success of the Beat the Street initiative, the LSP believed that technology can motivate participants to get active.”
The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 3.2 million deaths each year are due to insufficient physical activity.
At present, the Limerick Sports Partnership are working with Limerick City and County Council, Healthy Limerick, the Limerick Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and various other key board partners to ensure that Limerick City and County receive the best possible opportunities in relation to physical activity.
Creating awareness of existing outdoor recreation facilities/ amenities is key to keeping and getting people active. This newly developed adventure walking app will add to the use of the various free parks, trails and walkways that exist throughout Limerick and while also catering for all the family.
For more information on the Adventure Walks Limerick App please go to www.limericksports.ie or contact the Limerick Sports Partnership on 061 333600.