By Erin Davisson
On Thursday, May 31, senior citizens in Wellington participated in the first Mall Walk at the Mall at Wellington Green.
Organized by the Village of Wellington’s Community Services Department, registration began at 8:45 a.m., with the twice monthly walk beginning promptly at 9 a.m.
The exercise covered the entire mall, with a 9:45 a.m. break at the Great American Cookie Company, where the shop served the walkers cookies and coffee. At 10 a.m., everyone gathered at the Live 360 Studio to play games such as chess, mahjong and cards.
The Live 360 Studio is located near Nordstrom and acts as a main base for the Mall Walk, as well as other special events at the mall. Participants rated the inaugural event enjoyable and successful.
Wellington Senior Services Specialist Jenifer Brito, one of the organizers of the event, told the Town-Crier that the walks were brought to the mall this year to accommodate seniors’ exercise needs.
“The weather is getting wetter and hotter,” she said. “We wanted to offer our seniors an opportunity to exercise indoors.”
Along with the indoor setting, the mall offers a relaxing and fun environment in which the seniors can exercise. It’s also climate friendly for the humidity.
Wellington Community Services Director Paulette Edwards, the mall walk’s other organizer, said the event is part of a growing set of programming for local senior citizens.
“The village is slowly realizing that there is a steady growing population of seniors,” she said. “Activities like these recognize this fact and help spread awareness of livability in Wellington.”
Both women were excited about the event and the importance of exercise among Wellington’s senior population.
The sponsors for the event are the Mall at Wellington Green and the Great American Cookie Company.
The walks will occur every second and last Thursday of the month. For more information, call Paulette Edwards at (561) 791-4130 or Jenifer Brito at (561) 791-4796.
Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/seniors to learn more about Village of Wellington senior programming.
