EVANSTON — The Evanston Recreation Center was busy on Saturday, Jan. 4, as Evanston Parks and Recreation joined forces with Uinta County Public Health to host the Super Saturday Evanston Health Rally. Rec Center admission was free for the day and multiple opportunities were provided for individuals and families to get moving and have fun.

Free 30-minute sample fitness classes were offered from 9 a.m. to noon, including HIGH Fitness, Pound!, rowing, cycling, pop Pilates and yoga. Extreme Rush inflatables were set up in the gym, along with other family games and open gym for basketball or other activities. Free open swim was held in the afternoon and many teens and youngsters spent a couple of hours playing archery tag in the multi-purpose room.

Many people took to the track to walk and run laps, trying to reach a goal of 100 community miles walked or run in one day. Uinta County Public Health Nurse Manager Kim Proffit said the 100-mile goal was met with time to spare this year. During last year’s event, there were still several miles to go with only minutes left to the end of the day, resulting in multiple people stepping up and running laps to meet the goal.

Free snacks and smoothies were offered, and people were able to write their goals for the new year on a community goal and motivation poster in the entry area.

Folks also had the opportunity to sign up for the Healthy Evanston group, which is a movement focusing on helping residents eat, move and feel better. Proffit said there were 45-50 people who signed up on Saturday, in addition to those who registered last year and have already been participating.

Those who signed up on Saturday earned a free T-shirt and will receive the monthly Healthy Evanston newsletter complete with recipes and other resources. Participants will also have access to online resources and tools, including tracking tools to monitor physical activity, nutrition and social activities. They are also able to follow a link to sign up for the Healthy Evanston Virtual Community Walk and Steps Challenge, which allows participants to track their steps and combine them with other participants to complete the virtual walk through an app called World Walking.

Although the Super Saturday event has passed, people can still go to www.healthyevanston.com to join the group, receive the newsletter and participate.

Proffit said the Super Saturday Health Rally was a success. “We feel like it went well, and it was fun,” she said. “I’m grateful for the Rec Center for offering free admission for the day. It’s a good chance for families to get in and do some fun things and try some stuff out. Our goal is simply to encourage, motivate and bring some attention to making healthy changes in the new year, and I think and hope we were able to accomplish that.”