Health Department

Heart Healthy Communities

What is a heart healthy community?

Community design, amenities, and policies can motivate individuals to make healthy lifestyle decisions. A heart healthy community will promote social and physical environments that encourage citizens to be active, eat well, eliminate tobacco use, and access preventive health services.

What are some successful community strategies?

The most successful strategies for healthy communities are always born of collaboration. When local businesses, organizations, schools, agencies, churches, and clubs work together in the best interests of the people and communities they serve, great things can be achieved. The following heart healthy strategies have been successful in communities throughout Ohio and the the nation:

Farmers' markets
Networks of sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes that link community destinations
Anti-tobacco policies
Low income and senior discounts to fitness centers and farmers' markets
Community gardens
Shared open spaces
Access to parks and recreational areas
Support items such as greenery, benches, bicycle parking areas, etc.
Transportation engineering such as improved road crossings, multi-use roads, and traffic calming tools
Community health coalitions
Recreational clubs (hiking, biking, rowing, etc.)
Community events that promote wellness

The above strategies represent a fraction of what can be achieved when vested partners work together for the greater good of a community. The end result will be a safe community where healthy residents mutually support each other in performing all of the functions of life and developing to their maximun potential.