100th “Kids in Parks” TRACK Trail to Open in Tarboro Nov. 1

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will join Kids in Parks, Edgecombe County and the Town of Tarboro Thursday, Nov. 1 to celebrate the opening of North Carolina’s 100th “Kids in Parks” TRACK Trail at Indian Lake in Tarboro. 

The grand opening, including a ribbon cutting and guided hike, will be held at 11 a.m., Nov. 1 at Indian Lake Sports Complex, 3300 Western Blvd, Tarboro. The public is invited to attend. 

“One of our department’s goals is to encourage kids and families to spend time outdoors, in our national, state and local parks,” said Susi H. Hamilton, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “Evidence shows that spending time in nature improves both physical and mental health for kids of all ages, and the Kids in Parks trails are designed to specifically appeal to children and get them excited about being active outside. This new trail will be a magnet for families in Tarboro and Edgecombe County.”

The Kids in Parks program provides a network of family-friendly outdoor adventures called TRACK Trails. Each one features self-guided brochures and signs that turn a park visit into a fun and exciting outdoor experience. And, the fun doesn’t stop on the trail. Kids that complete TRACK Trail adventures can register their hikes through the program’s website, kidsinparks.com, and earn a series of prizes designed to make their next outdoor adventure more fun and keep them engaged in the program.

Kids in Parks started with a vision to improve the health of children and the health of our parks by making existing trails more attractive and fun for novice users. Childhood obesity rates continue to rise, and kids are spending more time in front of screens than outside exercising. Through a grant supported by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, Kids in Parks has partnered with the county and town to create the trail materials for Indian Lake Park.