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Due to the rise in cases and ongoing concern of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department will not host 5-2-1-0 Day of Play and the Pensacola Senior Games this September. 

Each September, Play Pensacola hosts 5-2-1-0 Day of Play, a partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County  and 5-2-1-0 Healthy Escambia!, as well as its athletic competition, the Pensacola Senior Games presented by Humana. 

The 5-2-1-0 Northwest Florida! program encourages children and their families to adopt four healthy behaviors associated with achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. This can help prevent conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The 5-2-1-0 messages are defined as:

• 5 or more fruits and vegetables every day

Five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day helps children get the vitamins they need to support growth and development and a healthy immune system.

• 2 hours or less recreational screen time 

Children who watch more than two hours of screen time have an increased risk to unhealthy weight, lower reading scores, and attention problems. It is best to limit screens such as television, video and computer games, and handheld devices such as tablets and smartphones.

• 1 hour or more of physical activity  

Being active helps manage weight and reduces the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Children are encouraged to be active. Physical activities can be enjoyed as a family through games such as relays, hula hoop, or sports.

• 0 sugary drinks, more water and low-fat milk 

Drinking soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages puts children at risk for unhealthy weight gain and dental cavities. Low-fat milk is a great source of calcium, which is important for growing strong bones and teeth. Water is important to maintain a healthy immune system. Fruit, such as strawberries or lemons, can be added to receive natural sugars.
 
The Pensacola Senior Games presented by Humana is an athletic competition open to athletes 50 years of age and older who compete in a series of sporting events over the course of two weeks each September. Events include, but are not limited to: bocce, basketball, darts, golf, tennis, track and field and swimming. The City of Pensacola has hosted the Senior Games since its inauguration in 1991.

The games' mission is to promote a healthy, active lifestyle for citizens over the age of 50 throughout Pensacola.

"The Pensacola Senior Games committee made this difficult, yet prudent, decision that by hosting the events we would be going against our mission statement as well as putting our participants, volunteers, and staff at risk," Parks and Recreation Athletics Superintendent Cheryl Fox said. "We will miss seeing you all this year but are looking forward to the 2021 Pensacola Senior Games. Mark your calendars!"

The 2021 Pensacola Senior Games will be held Sept. 10 – Sept. 26, 2021.

The Olympic style events are sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation and qualify for the statewide, Florida State Senior Games, and nationwide, National Senior Games competitions, also for athletes 50 years of age and older.

For more information on the Pensacola Senior Games, contact Vickrey Resource Center at 912-4056 or by email at vickreycenter@cityofpensacola.com.

For more information on 5-2-1-0 Northwest Florida!, visit Facebook.com/5210nwfl or 5210nwfl.com.

For more event announcements, visit PlayPensacola.com or contact the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department at 436-5670.