Office of the Mayor

WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND

"Ready, Set, Go Exercise and Have Fun"

Woonsocket Launches Free Mayor’s Health & Wellness Club for Ages 55+

Woonsocket, R.I.: The City of Woonsocket today introduced the "Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt Health & Wellness Club", an activity filled club for residents 55+ plus years of age who want to be active while having outdoor fun and meeting new friends. The Club features a Walking Program headed by longtime Woonsocket educator and track and field coach, George Briggs, as well as other low- impact and social activities including Badminton at WWII Veterans Memorial Park Tuesday & Thursday 8:00-10:00 AM and a Corn Hole league later this summer. The Club is free for Woonsocket residents and funded through the City by grants from the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging and Citizens Bank’s "Growing Communities" initiative administered by the Rhode Island Local Initiative Support Corporation.

Mayor Baldelli-Hunt exclaimed, "I am very pleased that our City was able to secure grants so we can offer programs that allow our more senior residents the perfect venue to get active again and safely exercise under the guidance of Coach Briggs." The Mayor added, "Our older residents were cooped up by the pandemic for a long time and the Health and Wellness Club offers them an organized setting to maintain good health, have fun and a chance to make new acquaintances."

Coach George Briggs stated, "The Mayor’s Health and Wellness Club provides a great environment for our senior residents while making positive changes to their health with increased energy and sustained benefits. Jack Paskanik, retired WFD Deputy Chief, Bob Meo and I are looking forward to meeting with our 55+ year old residents and getting healthier in the weeks to come."

The "Walking Club" will be meeting at WWll Veterans Memorial Park throughout the summer at 8:00 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Signups for the Corn Hole League will be at Bouley Field on July 22nd and 29th at 8:30 AM. The Corn Hole league will commence in mid-August and be held at Bouley Field. Coach Briggs can be reached at 401-766-4908 to answer questions regarding the walking club and other activities. Participants in the Mayor’s Health & Wellness Club will each receive a free colorful City of Woonsocket logo t-shirt, water bottle, drawstring backpack and sunscreen.