Let's Move Campbell!

Hundreds of people came out to the Campbell Community Center Saturday to try different physical activities offered as part of the Let’s Move, Let’s Play Campbell! community event hosted by the city’s Recreation and Community Services Department.

Community members of all ages tried more than 20 different recreational activities such as yoga, zumba dancing, line dancing, pilates and spinning that are offered by the city on a regular basis.

The activities occupied 10 different recreation rooms in the community center.

According to Cynthia Bojorquez, the city’s director of recreation and community services, Saturday’s open house was a chance for people to try something new.

“We are in some difficult times right now,” said Bojorquez. “And this event gives people a chance to try something new without having to pay for it, to see if they like it and want to spend the money to participate in it. They have a chance to do something they don’t normally do.”

The event was inspired by the national Let’s Move! program created by First Lady Michelle Obama, which promotes physical activity for Americans, especially children and seniors, to combat obesity.

The city teamed up with several local businesses like Whole Foods, Jamba Juice and had several local food trucks on hand to sell food for participants.

The six-hour event wrapped up with a performance from the popular local band, The Groove Kings, who performed a two-hour set out on the track field.

The free event also featured a Bike Rodeo where about 25 kids practiced safe bike-riding drills.

According to Thanh Do, a recreation coordinator with the city, the biking demonstrations were intended to teach kids the importance of bike safety.

“This event is about teaching kids how to have control and how to handle their bicycle,” said Do. “It is also for kids out and moving, to stay active. We’ve been celebrating all summer about being active and this was an opportunity to promote bike riding as a way of being active.”

The city teamed up with several local businesses to make the “Rodeo” a success. Wikid Cycles of Mountain View lent the department 35 bicycles while Tread, a Downtown Campbell bike shop, provided bike racks.

The sports retail organization, Sports Basement, was in attendance to do bicycle safety checks.

The Children’s Discovery Museum donated four admission tickets while the city’s police department donated 35 bicycle helmets.