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Richardson parks staff outline 2026 Healthier Texas Community Challenge, new UTD partnership and app
Summary
Parks & Recreation staff briefed the council on the city’s participation in the Jan. 20–Mar. 15 Healthier Texas Community Challenge, announced a new University of Texas at Dallas partnership, a new fitness-tracking app and incentives including tumblers and a March 7 celebration walk/run at Huffines Park.
Ashley Wakefield, corporate recreation manager for Richardson Parks & Recreation, told the council the city will participate in the 2026 Healthier Texas Community Challenge, an eight-week statewide health competition that runs Jan. 20 through March 15 and is free to join.
Wakefield said Richardson placed 10th overall in its division in 2025 with 219 registered participants and 1,948,675 total points accrued. For 2026 the city added a partnership with the University of Texas at Dallas to help boost engagement and cost-share some raffle and giveaway items. Wakefield said Healthier Texas is developing a new app integrated with the FitRankings platform to sync activity from Apple Health, Strava, Fitbit and other devices and to provide more reliable point tracking.
The city will host registration seminars, weekly group classes beginning Jan. 24 (yoga, dance fitness, nutritional cooking with Texas A&M AgriLife), a Jan. 17 kickoff inside Heights Rec Center and a March 7 walk/run celebration at Huffines Park to mark the program’s end. Wakefield described a pledge form for partner organizations and a tumbler reward for individuals who accrue 25,000 or more points during the challenge.
Council members asked procedural questions about prior participation and city category placement; Wakefield said Richardson competes in a large-city category and that 2024—not 2025—had the highest participation. Council members were asked to sign the partner pledge and pose for a photo with staff following the briefing.
No formal action was required or taken during the briefing; staff will proceed with outreach and promotional activities.
