FAMILIES are being encouraged to come together and get active at fun and exciting weekly ParkPlay sessions in Harlow. 

Run by provider Changing Lives, the two-hour Saturday sessions start at 9.30am and take place at Harlow Town Park. 

Like the popular Park Run concept, ParkPlay involves bringing people together in groups for fun games and activities, led by Play Leaders. 

Sessions are inclusive and focused on supporting residents’ mental wellbeing and reducing social isolation whilst also helping to tackle obesity by encouraging physical activity. 

ParkPlay achieves many of the same benefits as Park Run but recognises that there are people out there who will prefer to play rather than to run.

The sessions are being funded as part of work to promote physical activity in Harlow via Active Essex and will support Essex County Council’s Levelling Up programme, which has identified the town as a priority area. 

Cllr Louise McKinlay, Essex County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance, said: “Supporting families across Essex is a key focus for our Levelling Up programme. Play is for everyone, benefits everyone and the ParkPlay sessions in Harlow will bring families together, increasing opportunities for them to enjoy quality time together and build connections with their community. 

“We want to support all residents of Essex to lead healthy, independent and active lives, no matter where across the county they live. ParkPlay encourages physical activity and helps promotes mental wellbeing in an innovative way and we’re delighted to have these sessions up and running in Harlow.”

ParkPlay sessions started in Harlow Town Park just before Christmas with the ambition being to extend them to other parks in the town in the future.