The Riverhead Central School District celebrated being the first district in New York State to win a grant to kick off Project Fit America on Thursday.
The opening ceremony for the fitness program, which will be implemented in Riverhead elementary schools, took place at the Pulaski Street School gym.
The program became a reality due to a partnership between Project Fit America, Peconic Bay Medical Center, and the Suffolk County Lions Club Diabetes Education Foundation.
Both PBMC and the Lions contributed $60,000 to finance the implementation of the program at all four of the district's elementary schools and the Pulaski Street School.
Also contributing was the Brickman Group, which provided the installation and landscaping of the outdoor exercise areas at all five Riverhead elementary schools.
Attending Thursday's event were school officials and board of education members, the high school pep band, Riverhead High School cheerleaders, the NJROTC color guard, Rippy the Blue Wave Mascot, Quacker Jack from the Long Island Ducks, a representative from Planet Fitness, and many others.
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Kids were onhand to happily demonstrate the equipment; a hooping challenge was a highlight of the festivities.
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