Earl B. Fitts Park in Goldston before playground addition.	Goldston Mayor Tim Cunnup cuts ribbon for new playground.	Earl B. Fitts Park in Goldston after the playground addition is complete.

What is Active Chatham?

Active Chatham is a community-based coalition that advocates for health through physical activity and fitness.

Active Chatham was started in 2000 to encourage Chatham residents to become more physically active. This group also works to promote physical activity in schools, worksites, and communties.

Physical Activity Resource Guide is Here!

The Chatham County Physical Activity Resource Guide was released June 1. The resource guide lists organizations that have facilities for physical activity. The resource guide provides the contact information, address and amenities available for each facility. A county map provides directions to the facilities.


The map is joint effort between the Chatham County Public Health Department, Chatham County Parks and Recreation Department, and Active Chatham.

Click here for the Physical Activity Resource Guide.

The map is available at the following locations:

- Chatham County Public Health Department, 80 East Street, Pittsboro or 
1000 South Tenth Street in Siler City
- Local fitness centers
- Town of Pittsboro Office, 635 East Street, Pittsboro
- Chatham County Parks and Recreation Department, 90 East Street, Pittsboro
- Chatham County Libraries: Pittsboro Memorial, 158 West Street; Wren Memorial,
  500 North Second Avenue in Siler City; Goldston Library 9325 Pittsboro Goldston Road
- Chatham County Council on Aging: 365 Highway 87 in Pittsboro, 112 Village Lake
  Road in Siler City
- Siler City Government Office, 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City

What has Active Chatham done in the past?

• Annual 5K Reindeer Run- Click here for more information.
• Carry out programs for schools and other groups
• Improve existing county trails
• Park clean-ups
• Pedometer program
• Promote the importance of physical activity.
• Serve as advisors to county physical activty related projects
• Walk Pittsboro

Past Events

• Active Chatham Annual Reineer Run 5K - held the second Saturday of every December 

For more information or to be a part of Active Chatham, contact Jennifer Parker at 919-545-8444 or at jennifer.park@chathamnc.org.

New Parks Blog

The town of Pittsboro Parks and Recreation has started a blog. Click here for the latest scoop on Pittsboro parks.

Why is physical activity so important?

Physical activity does the following:

• Decreases the risk of heart disease, diabetes high blood pressure, and some types of cancer  
• Reduces feelings of anxiety and depression
• Controls weight
• Helps build healthy bones, muscles, and joints

How much physical activity should I get?

 Adults should meet one of these physical activity recommendations: 

• Adults should engage in moderate intensity (walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming, or bicycling on flat ground), physical activities for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week.
  - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American College of Sports Medicine

OR

• Adults should engage in vigrous intensity (jogging, mowing the lawn with a nonmotorized pushmower, high-impact aerobic dancing, swimming continuous laps, or bicycling uphill), physical activity 3 or more days per week for 20 or more minutes per occasion
  – Healthy People 2010

Where can I find more information on getting physically active?

Try the following links for more information:

Active Living by Design- http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/ 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity Page- http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/index.htm

Eat Smart Move More North Carolina- http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Guide to Physical Activity- http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/phy_act.htm

United States Department of Agriculture Inside the Pyramid-
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/physical_activity.html