The YMCA of Greater San Antonio, along with Presenting Sponsor H-E-B, have announced its signature outdoor fitness event, Síclovía, is on the move to a new South Side location.
Síclovía will take place on March 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting at the intersection of South St. Mary’s Street and East Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard, and traveling south along East Mitchell St. and Mission Road to Mission Concepción, for about 2.5 miles.
Síclovía is a free event that turns selected San Antonio streets into safe places for people of all ages to exercise and play in a car-free environment. Traditionally, Síclovía has taken place on a route along Broadway between the Alamo and Lion’s Field Park. The change will expose new communities to Síclovía and showcase more of San Antonio’s beautiful landscape.
“Our mission, quite simply, is to get San Antonians of all ages up and moving,” says Sandy Morander, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. “The concept is to come out and play with us and see how much fun you can have being physically active.”
At Síclovía, individuals of all ages and abilities are invited to “play in the street” and enjoy a day filled with fun, physical activity and family togetherness. The new route along South St. Mary’s Street will showcase a dynamic and growing part of San Antonio with the rich history of Mission Concepción and nearby Mission Reach trails along the San Antonio River.
“We want the rest of San Antonio and visitors from outside the city to see the great things that the Mission area has to offer,” said District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca J. Viagran, whose district is included in the new route. “The city is working closely with the community to ensure that neighborhoods along the route will be part of celebrating and showcasing this great event.”
Presenting Sponsor H-E-B and Platinum Sponsor Humana will open the streets to an expected 65,000+ participants. Held in the fall and spring each year, Síclovía has grown from 15,000 participants at the inaugural event in 2011 to more than 73,000 last fall.
“We are so very excited to be part of this event, which promotes healthy lifestyles while highlighting the beauty and diversity of the beautiful city that H-E-B calls home,” said Kate Rogers, H-E-B’s Vice President of Communication and Engagement.
Síclovía participants will enjoy activities and vendors at key stops at Roosevelt Park and Mission Concepción. Along the route, participants will be able to enjoy Reclovias, areas featuring fun scheduled group activities and exercise demonstrations, as well as free-form recreational activities like hula hooping, sidewalk chalk art, street tennis, pickleball, jump rope and soccer games.
The modern day Ciclovía originated in Bogotá, Colombia, 30 years ago. Bogotá began their program with 8 miles of open streets. Ciclovía became so popular that Bogotá officials have opened more than 70 miles of car-free streets to their citizens and connect city parks to provide green spaces for Reclovías.
Visit www.siclovia.org for more information.
