Get Healthy Utah, in conjunction with the Utah League of Cities and Towns, is pleased to announce the newest Healthy Utah Community designees. Four cities and towns qualified this fall: Coalville, Holladay, Hooper, and Monroe. We are also pleased to announce our first redesignees! Spanish Fork, Vernal, and West Valley City each qualified to be redesignated as Healthy Utah Communities.

Coalville

Coalville City has been working hard to create a healthy community! To improve active living, Coalville has focused on schools. The Summit County Health Department provides Safe Routes to School Beat the Street assemblies to K-3 and 4-6 grades at the elementary school, while the city has fostered partnerships with local schools to promote Safe Routes to School.

Coalville City has improved access to healthy food by partnering with the Utah Community Action Services Food Pantry. Along with the Summit County Health Department, the city has provided resources, support, and volunteers. The Summit County Health Department also offers QPR training and gun locks in Coalville through the Health Promotion and Behavioral Health Prevention departments. Moving forward, the Healthy Coalville Coalition plans to implement a strategy to improve active living by improving conditions for pedestrians and bikers. 

Holladay

Holladay has been busy implementing strategies to promote health for its residents. Among other strategies, Holladay improved the Big Cottonwood Trail with a bike repair station, water station, and restrooms. The city supports food pantries at its high schools through donations and sponsoring food drives. The city also promoted mental wellbeing by hosting a free QPR class for community members.

Holladay has big plans to continue building a healthy community! The city plans to launch a comprehensive mental health page on the city website, with resources for residents. The city plans to continue improving and promoting the Big Cottonwood Trail. Finally, Holladay also plans to complete a formal strategic planning process, using the Communities that Care framework, to address community health needs. Way to go, Holladay!

Hooper

Hooper has been working on big things this year! The City organized a diverse coalition with members from the sheriff’s department, a school nurse, the local health department, elected officials, city staff, and a community member. Everyone is focused on “Keeping Hooper Healthy”! 

The city earned a grant to help build pickle ball courts and a basketball court, offering residents fun ways to get outside and active. Hooper also organizes a monthly “Tomato Jam.” Local musicians, of all ages and abilities, get together to share their musical talents. Members of the community are invited to watch, and light refreshments are served. What a fun way to promote connection through the arts!

Hooper also decided to go above and beyond for their plans moving forward. They plan to implement three new strategies: developing a new trail connection; hosting healthy cooking classes; and providing drug education and resources to the community.

Monroe

Monroe has implemented some fun new strategies to promote healthy lifestyles for its residents! The city offers low cost community sports programs, and is working to install pickleball courts locally. To improve access to healthy food, Monroe has started offering a bimonthly farmers market and food truck rally.

Monroe’s main focus has been on improving mental health. The city installed a second medication drop box, and handed out free gun locks to citizens. Monroe also beautified an area for outdoor recreation, which promotes both active living and mental wellbeing. And moving forward, the city plans to promote mental health awareness through local law enforcement and the local high school. 

Redesignated Cities and Towns: Spanish Fork, Vernal, and West Valley City

We are so pleased to recognize our first cohort of redesignated cities! Each of these cities has done great work over the past three years to continue building healthy communities. 

Spanish Fork, after years of conversations and advocacy, formed a garden committee. In April 2022, the city opened a new community garden to the public! The city also modeled worksite wellness for its own employees. The city held a two-week worksite wellness challenge that centered around positive food habits, emotional health and physical activity. 

Over the past three years, Vernal’s health coalition has been busy! Their successes have included new pickleball courts, new improvements and developments for trails, and Vernal Rocks, a summer program that helps families get outside exploring. It is great to see an active health coalition making a difference in the community!

The Healthy West Valley Committee has also been actively working on many projects. They completed a community health assessment to understand the health needs of West Valley residents. They supported creation of the West Valley Farmers Market, offered health webinars, supported a new community garden, and helped host a new Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. It’s great to see West Valley City making great strides in implementing health strategies!