Payson

Payson City prioritizes healthy, active living in its community. To qualify for the designation, the city created two new walking trails and maintains a variety of other outdoor amenities like pickle ball courts, disc golf courses, and basketball courts. The city also prioritized access to healthy food by allowing residents to raise up to six backyard chickens per household and offering an emergency food pantry at its city offices. To support mental health, Payson has a medication disposal box, hosts two Drug Take-Back events each year, and offers free naloxone kits and trainings at the city library.

HEALTH STRATEGIES

Active Living

• Develop a new walking/biking trail or add to an existing one
• Offer free and low-cost community sports programs for both adults and children

Access to Healthy Food

• Adopt ordinances that allow backyard poultry/animal husbandry
• Improve access to emergency food by establishing a food pantry/program or improving an existing one

Mental Health

• Implement a strategy to promote safe use and disposal of medications
• Provide free Naloxone training and rescue kits to community members