World Record Attempt, food, music and games on tap for Chalk Sports Ciclovia

Mayor Edna Jackson slipped off her dress shoes and joined 80 students from Jacob G. Smith Elementary School for a Tuesday practice round as Savannah prepares to break the World Hopskotching Record this weekend.

The current record for Most People Simultaneously Hopskotching is held by London, England, at 358. Students at Jacob G. Smith sang “London Bridge is Falling Down” and waived American Flags during Tuesday’s news conference. Anyone – young, old or in between – is invited to join them in the attempt, which will be held at 3 p.m. at Lincoln and Gaston streets.

“I am excited about breaking the record – and we WILL break it – and even more excited about seeing the whole community come out, exercise and have a good old time together,” Mayor Jackson said. “We are going to get healthy the old fashioned way – by heading outside and having fun.”

The Record Attempt is just one event during an afternoon of family fun on a pedestrian-only Lincoln Street (Gaston to Henry) that will be held from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, April 28. Called the Chalk Sports Ciclovia, the event will also include live music, art, bicycle activities, games, crafts, and a special Forsyth Farmer’s Market relocated to Lincoln Street.

Jacob G. Smith Principal Andrea Burkiett talked about her school’s numerous efforts to improve the health of her students, for which the school has won a number of awards.

“We’re very good at teaching the academics, but in the long run we hope to make an overall impact on the student that will stand as they get older,” said Principal Burkiett. “We can teach them math and English and science, but we can also teach then to be healthy and get fit so they can models of healthy living for the next generation.”

The Chalk Sports Ciclovia is the first of four Play Streets events that will be held in different parts of Savannah throughout 2013. The Play Streets series is made possible through a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and the Partnership for a Healthier America.

“Childhood obesity is on the rise, and Georgia has the second highest childhood obesity rate in the country,” said Mark Dukes of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. “If we do not help our children understand the importance and discover the joy of being active and healthy, we are well on our way to becoming first. This is one race we do not want to win.”

For more information about the event, visit http://savannahga.gov/play or contact Garrison Marr at gmarr@savannahga.gov.