Second Sunday includes monthly events in Lexington and an annual statewide event that encourages all forms of physical activity within the local community and is designed to get Kentuckians moving.
Communities across Kentucky are planning to simultaneously close a roadway or plan an event from 2-6 p.m. on the second Sunday of October (October 10, 2010) so that residents can bike, walk, run, play and participate in fun and healthy activities.
Second Sunday is a state-wide campaign that will serve as a catalyst for improving Kentucky's health status and can become a template for nationwide awareness. The idea originated in Bogota, Columbia where officials close more than 70 miles of roads to vehicles, opening them to local residents for exercise every Sunday. Several communities have presented similar events, but Kentucky is the first state.
Kentucky is consistently ranked among the top 10 states for obesity and obesity-related diseases. Second Sunday presents a message of change from being a state of spectators to one of active participants. Organized by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension and community partners, Second Sunday sends a compelling message that Kentucky is serious about improving its residents' health and promoting physical activity. More than 20,000 people in 101 counties participated in the 2009 event.
In 2009, Kentucky's Governor and General Assembly endorsed October 11 as Second Sunday Kentucky. They noted how Second Sunday is not just one afternoon of physical activity, but a vehicle to raise awareness of the need for local infrastructure that promotes a healthy lifestyle in an otherwise sedentary population.
Experiencing a fun-filled day of activities in existing roadways can be the catalyst for local communities to actively pursue convenient and safe places for physical activity the other 364 days of the year. Second Sunday can serve as the first step in improving the physical, environmental and economic health of all Kentuckians.
Second Sunday is a platform to showcase community programs that are positively affecting the community's health, economy and environment. Collaborative alliances amongst businesses, organizations, and the community are an effective and efficient way to achieve growth objectives, stimulate the economy, and create synergy. Affiliating yourself with Second Sunday will help mobilize an effort to show your local community some fun, simple ways to incorporate physical activity into everyday life and build a compelling inexpensive case for investment in trails, sidewalks, smart streets, parks, etc. We sincerely hope that you will take the opportunity to join community partners in support of sending a compelling message of change — from being a state of spectators to one of active participants.