Shoreline’s Million Stairs Challenge surpasses goal

Bill Clements at the Million Stair Climb
Photo by Keith McGlashan

2,266,404 steps tallied in month of June

Shoreline parks users surpassed all expectations last month by climbing over two million stairs at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. This was the second annual City of Shoreline Million Stair Challenge issued to the community to encourage park use and physical fitness.

Richmond Beach Saltwater Park encompasses both beach access and a bluff trail. Between the two is a stairway that gains 85 feet in elevation in 188 steps. Fitness enthusiasts use the stairs year round to exercise.  In 2012 a lap counter was installed at the top of the stairs as a tool to track personal progress. In 2013 the City installed outdoor exercise equipment along the path in response to citizen requests.

Shoreline Parks Director Dick Deal decided to issue a challenge to park users in 2012 to see if they could reach a million stairs collectively in just one month. The community exceeded this goal easily, logging 1.2 million stairs by the end of the month. This year over 400 individuals recorded a stunning 2.2 million stairs over the same amount of time. Participants reported their stair totals online or on paper available at the top of the stairs. The 2013 Million Stair Challenge was featured on the June 20 episode of KING 5 Evening Magazine’s Health Link as an example of healthy community engagement.

The stair steppers crossed the two million mark well before the end of the month. Passing the goal only seemed to inspire more determination and on the final day of the stair climb there were dozens on the steps straining to get their last tally recorded before the challenge ended. By the end of the day on June 30 the grand total of stairs climbed reached 2,266,404.

Shoreline’s City Council adopted a Healthy City Strategy in 2011 that supports and encourages community members to make healthy choices. Initiatives such as the Million Stairs Challenge will continue throughout the year as the City works to support Shoreline residents in maintaining healthy lifestyles.

Learn more about the City’s healthy City Strategy and to find ongoing and upcoming Healthy City programs.

Corrected name for Bill Clements, in photo 07-04-2013 2:37pm