The most beautiful fitness centers in the state are turning 100 this year, and Hoosiers are being encouraged to celebrate by getting outside and getting healthy.
Indiana State Parks is celebrating its centennial year in 2016 and one way it is commemorating the milestone is with the Centennial Fitness Challenge.
The challenge encourages visitors to walk, run, bike, paddle or swim at least 25 miles, or ride on horseback 100 miles, by Nov. 31.
Those who do will be entered into a drawing for prizes, including a 2017 Annual Entrance Pass, Outdoor Indiana magazine subscriptions, DNR camping gift cards and State Park Inns gift certificates.
As a bonus to celebrate the centennial, anyone who completes 100 miles, or 200 miles on horseback, by Nov. 31 will receive a free Indiana State Parks commemorative centennial coin.
Indiana State Parks director Dan Bortner said state parks offer hundreds of miles of trails that wind past lakes, climb big hills, wander through deep forests and canyons, and explore prairies. Many locations also offer accessible hard-surface trails, he said.
“All of these pathways offer opportunities for exercise,” Bortner said. “They also offer the added benefit of just being outdoors, where it is possible to shed the worries and challenges of daily life for a little while.”
Participants must download and keep a Fitness Challenge log that documents their visits to state parks and get a signature from park staff each time they visit.
The log, and additional information on the challenge, is at dnr.IN.gov/healthy.
To see other ways to celebrate Indiana State Parks centennial year, visit INStateParks100.com.
To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
