Get Healthy Utah, in conjunction with the Utah League of Cities and Towns, is pleased to announce the newest designees of the Healthy Utah Community award. Six cities and towns qualified this spring: Harrisville, Lindon, Price, Providence, Riverdale, and Santaquin.

Harrisville

Harrisville is committed to active living, with walking and biking trails for all its residents. The city also has provided its residents with a community garden. Harrisville has formed partnerships to promote the safe use and disposal of medications. And the city actively trains its first responders on mental health crises and suicide prevention. 

Moving forward, Harrisville has established a community coalition, including the mayor, members of the local health department, and residents. The coalition hopes to engage some local businesses as well. Harrisville plans to conduct a moveability audit to identify and strengthen community access to open lands such as parks, employment, access to shopping, and education.

Lindon City

Lindon has been working hard on building a healthy community! The city has created a master bicycle plan that incorporates a heritage trail system from the mountain to the lake. Lindon also built a pedestrian and biking path to create safe access to four schools. To help its residents have access to healthy food, Lindon has a Farmers Market that accepts SNAP, and has worked to improve its local food pantry. Lindon has also worked to promote mental wellbeing for seniors and teenagers, through a variety of events.

Over the next three years, Lindon is planning to establish a Communities that Care chapter to offer residents classes and resources. The city is going to continue to invest in its Safe Routes to School corridor. And a new annual community event for teenagers will teach about resources for mental health, healthy cooking, and other healthy living strategies.

Price

We love how Price, a smaller city in Utah, leveraged its existing resources to focus on building a healthy community! Price built on an existing coalition to focus its efforts on building a healthy, vibrant downtown district. Price is adding designated bike lanes to its downtown streets. Many departments and partners in Price have been working to promote healthy eating through classes and messaging campaigns. And the city provides boxes to safely dispose of medication.

Leaders in Price are working hard to create an outdoor place where community members can gather and enjoy being outside during all seasons. 

Providence

Providence adopted a sidewalk and lighting ordinance, to create a more pedestrian friendly experience. The city is also modeling healthy workplace strategies, by providing healthy snacks for staff members and encouraging healthy food habits. And the city has provided a box to safely dispose of medications.

Providence has formed a coalition that is working hard to reach out to diverse stakeholders and thoughtfully promote health. The coalition created a community survey and gathered feedback from residents about how to improve the quality of life over the next three years. As part of their health plan, Providence is going to improve Safe Routes to School, and implement new community programs to promote access to healthy food.

Riverdale

We love how Riverdale has implemented several strategies that promote multiple health areas. Riverdale holds a 5k and Half Marathon, which both encourages active living and raises awareness of opioid addiction and underage drinking. The city also holds free classes at the Community Center for residents to learn about healthy eating and stress management. 

To meet the coalition requirement, Riverdale also decided to build on an existing coalition! Riverdale is going to work together with the Bonneville Communities that Care to discuss and promote health strategies. Riverdale is working to offer at least one quarterly community activity for families to get active.

Santaquin

Santaquin has officially adopted an Active Transportation Plan, and provides several community sports programs. The city council worked hard to bring a local grocery store, which will continue to provide many residents with access to healthy food. The city also provides community cooking classes, starting this year. For mental wellbeing, Santaquin provides meals at the senior center. And the city has worked to model good workplace wellbeing practices, by offering free fitness classes to city employees, as well as an Employee Assistance Plan.

Santaquin’s coalition is working to learn more about the best strategies to promote health, by inviting local experts to their meetings. Moving forward, Santaquin is going to provide its residents with more access to nature by developing its trails and parks systems. Santaquin is also expanding programs for residents to connect with each other, through summer parks programs and other events.