West Homestead Borough, a Live Well Allegheny Community, found a fun way to encourage physical activity during its Community Day that took place on August 19^th at Calhoun Community Park. Residents could ice skate outside in the summer on an all-weather ice rink. Experienced skaters brought their own ice skates for free sharpening before they hit the ice, and others rented ice skates so beginners and experts could skate together on a rink with snow machine, lights and music.

This activity was a project of the Live Well Allegheny Mon Valley Initiative. Funded by the Jefferson Regional Foundation, the initiative promotes the Live Well Allegheny campaign specifically in the south hills and Monongahela River valley. Municipalities and school districts in the region can apply for mini-grants up to $500 to promote Live Well Allegheny in their community. The funding is intended to implement a new program that the school or community has been thinking about or to add a healthier component to something that exists, like community day events. Community days are a great way to celebrate the places we live.

Communities and schools are getting creative with the mini-grants by encouraging activities that will increase access to fresh and healthy food, increase physical activity and decrease smoking. We are very excited to see how West Homestead Borough is creatively being active and living well.