The 11th annual
Great Outdoor Weekend is upon us, and with 125 free events and programs at 42 locations in eight counties spanning the Tri-State, it’s an event that Brewster Rhoads, executive director of
Green Umbrella, says is not to be missed.
“Cincinnati was ranked No. 1 in America by the Academy of Sports Medicine this past spring when it comes to outdoor recreational infrastructure—trails, parks, campgrounds, rivers—but the health condition of our citizenry was No. 38 out of 50,” Rhoads says.
“So part of what we’re about is connecting our citizens in the region to the recreational opportunities we have.”
The weekend’s events, taking place September 27-28, will feature opportunities for all. Zip-lining across our region’s tree canopy, canoeing, kayaking and even
swimming across the Ohio River are just a few of the options offered.
“It has become one of the largest—if not the largest—outdoor education and recreation samplers in the country,” Rhoads says. “It’s a way to introduce people—parents with kids, millennials and others—to the critical recreational and nature education opportunities in the region.”
According to Rhoads, Greater Cincinnati’s vibrant outdoor culture is a benefit to all who inhabit the area, and it’s an asset to our city, in that it's an attractor of young talent.
“You don’t have to live in Portland to bike to work, for example,” Rhoads says.
And according to Rhoads, that’s evidenced by the fact that Cincinnati was listed, for the first-time ever, as
one of the top-50 bike-friendly cities in America.
“We don’t claim that we make all this happen,” Rhoads says. “But we play a role in being a facilitator as a promoter of collaboration to move this area forward.”
Do Good:
• Attend one, or multiple events at
Great Outdoor Weekend.
• If you can't make it out to Great Outdoor Weekend, check out
Meet Me Outdoors! for a listing of free outdoor activities to engage in on a more frequent basis.
•
Get involved with Green Umbrella.
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