The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, inaugurated, this Wednesday, May 17, the first urban fitness trail in Nice Nord, within the Chambrun Park. This Acti’Santé loop aims to make sports accessible to everyone.
This trail was the municipality’s initiative to facilitate physical activity for everyone. This 4-kilometer loop is intended for neighborhood residents, but not only them! All the residents of Nice and even tourists are invited to discover this setup. This project also falls under a municipal policy of revitalizing the neighborhoods. “It’s a way to discover the Nice-Nord neighborhood differently, to take the unsuspected small country paths, to see points of interest such as the Villa Arson and the Saint-Barthélémy Church“, explains Charlène Falzon, project manager in public health at the City of Nice.
A 3-in-1 trail combines walking, physical exercises, and the discovery of the surrounding botanical heritage. Developed by the Maison Sport-Santé of the City of Nice, it encourages movement. Practicing regular walking reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, according to the WHO. Good for physical health, it is also beneficial for mental health. This activity could reduce depression symptoms by 36% with 30 minutes of daily walking.
Ready for 1h30 of sport?
Starting at the Gorbella tram station, this 1h30 activity begins in a generally peaceful environment. The loop crosses three green havens: the Chambrun Park, the Parc du Ray, and the Jardin Mouchan. “The objective is for each person to complete the course with the intensity they desire,” explains Barbara Prot, municipal councilor in charge of prevention and health education. Whether walking, jogging, or running, the pace doesn’t matter.
7 “active” stages are planned. Warm-up, stair climbing, chair exercises, abdominal work, squats, side stepping, and finally, stretching—the program is comprehensive. The overall elevation is considered moderate. Everything is planned to adapt to each person’s abilities and schedules. Completing the entire course is not obligatory, as the Comte de Falicon tram stop can serve as an exit point.
QR codes are placed at strategic points to access the map containing all practical information. It is also downloadable here.
Botanical Initiation
To catch one’s breath, breaks are necessary, and that’s the whole point of the sixteen botanical points scattered along the path. Norfolk pine, false pepper tree, California palm trees, Lebanon cedar, and umbrella pine are some remarkable plants living along this loop.
And if we lift our eyes and take the time to understand our surroundings? It’s this philosophy that Alain Nissim wishes to convey. The guide-conference specialist in Nice’s botanical and architectural heritage offers a different perspective on this walk. “It’s about showing, allowing people to appropriate the plants and showing interest because we can only protect what we love and know“, shares the cultural mediator.
More Loops to Come
Another botanical loop is coming shortly. It is planned for the Fabron sector in the last quarter of 2023. The starting point would be at the Fabron tram stop with a passage through Indochina Park, Carol of Romania Park, and the Promenade. A cinema loop and another on the theme of UNESCO are under consideration, reveals the municipal councilor.
In the meantime, monthly guided tours are planned under the expertise of Alain Nissim and a physical activity teacher, Pauline Ivaldi.