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Leave your couch behind for an afternoon and join us for the FREE Marysville Healthy Communities Challenge Day. It's a fun-filled community fitness and health celebration in collaboration with Snohomish County Get Movin' that will help your family get movin' and get growin' the right ways. Featuring: Ciscoe from KING 5 TV's "Gardening with Ciscoe" Tim Noah Concert Marysville Mile Walk on the Jennings Loop Hula Hoopfest Challenge and giveaways Community Healthy Dinner Fundraiser Local health and fitness agencies How-to seminars on gardening, plant and garden giveaways Kids art center Fitness demonstrations For more information, call the Marysville Parks and Recreation Office at (360) 363-8400. Thanks to our sponsors! Marysville Healthy Communities Project * Marysville/North County YMCA * Marysville School District * Marysville Globe * Community Transit * Sno-Isle Libraries * Summit Rehabilitation * Let's Dish

Try out Jennings Walking Loop The Marysville Healthy Communities Project encourages you to put on your walking shoes and explore the Jennings Walking Loop. Currently, the main loop route is 3.8 miles, which starts at Jennings Memorial Park north to Grove Street, then east to 67th Avenue NE, south to SR528 and Hickok Park, then west to 47th Avenue and Armar Road, ending back at Jennings Park. For variety, alternate routes to include Jennings Nature Park, Holman Nature Park and the Northpointe Trail. [view map]

Welcome to the
Marysville Healthy Communities Project website

The Marysville Healthy Communities Project is our community-level response to combat the obesity epidemic in our community, and the chronic diseases to which it contributes, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. These diseases are on the rise in Marysville, across the region and nationwide.

Obesity is absolutely preventable, through healthier eating and being more physically active.

Community members involved with the Marysville Healthy Communities Project are committed to the idea that the best way to address the obesity problem is from the community level up, through collaboration and cooperation among various groups and individuals in the community.

That means carrying forward new ways to:
• Transform our community with a more fitness-friendly urban recreational environment that encourages more bicycling, walking, and trail usage;
• Promote the eating of more fruits and vegetables as a healthy alternative to junk food and snacks that offer little or no nutritional value, through community gardens and other means;
• Provide Low-cost to no-cost recreational opportunities that encourage individuals and families of all ages to get out in our parks system and playfields and participate in intra-mural sports, pickup sports and other types of fitness that you can do on a whim.

Be sure to visit the website for future updates. This site will be expanded to give you some tips and suggestions that are tailored with you and your community in mind. We invite you to check in regularly, volunteer to join us, or simply provide comments, suggestions and ideas that will help us meet our goal to create a healthier community through promoting healthier lifestyles.

Marysville Public Schools, a key partner in the Marysville Healthy Communities Project, has established Walking Wednesdays, free nights of weekly walking, jogging or running the stairs under the bright lights at Marysville-Pilchuck High School Stadium’s running track. The Wednesday walks have become so popular, Healthy Communities has added a second night - Movin' Mondays!

You can walk, jog or run the stadium stairs every Monday and Wednesday from 4:40-9 p.m., says District Athletic Director Greg Erickson. It’s a great, no-cost outdoor workout will promote better physical fitness while doing good for your heart and burning fat.

Increasing access to free and low-cost recreational opportunities is a key priority of the Marysville Healthy Communities Project to promote physical fitness, healthier eating and to combat obesity.

Marysville chosen as pilot city in Snohomish County
to launch Healthy Communities Project Initiative
Widespread obesity and chronic diseases brought on by lack of physical activity and poor nutritional habits are reaching epidemic levels in communities across the nation and in Washington state. Marysville is no exception, but it has launched a new initiative to do something about it.

Marysville in April 2006 was chosen by the Snohomish Health District as the pilot city in Snohomish County for a new Healthy Communities Initiative, providing the means to reverse these damaging trends through a combination of planning, collaboration, leadership, community-based prevention and action that will put citizens on the road to better health.

Marysville Healthy Communities Project Action Plan – At a Glance

Priority No. 1 - Increase number of active community environments Utilize urban planning approaches that promote physical activity - Plan and fund a network of streets, pathways, parks and trails that support walking and biking within and between Marysville neighborhoods, city centers, schools and senior centers.

Priority No. 2 - Access to Health-Promoting Foods Increase the amount of an access to fruits and vegetables consumed by Marysville Food Bank participants. Increase number of eligible students participating in the Marysville School District free/reduced breakfast and lunch program. Establish community gardens to make fresh, local produce more readily available. Establish a congregate meal site for older adults. Increase access to and promotion of healthy foods at restaurants and business, for example, through nutrition labeling on menus.

Priority No. 3 - Increase number of people who have access to low cost or free recreational opportunities Increase community ownership, involvement in, and use of public facilities by establishing Adopt-A-Park Volunteer Program. Increase opportunities for play by building “activity courses” (i.e., a Frisbee course) and providing covered recreation facilities in selected parks. Explore establishing community center(s) throughout Marysville. Establish intramural sports programs in schools and worksites.

Leadership/Planning Team

Dennis Kendall, Mayor, City of Marysville
Jim Ballew, Parks and Recreation Director, Marysville
Carmen Rasmussen, City Councilmember
John Soriano, City Councilmember
Gloria Hirashima, Community Development Director, City of Marysville
Doug Buell, Public Information Officer, City of Marysville
Tara Mizell, Recreation Services Manager, City of Marysville
Steve Muller, Marysville Planning Commission
Dr. Nancy Thordarson, Everett Clinic
Gail Miller, Marysville School District
Greg Erickson, Marysville School District
Pete Lundberg, Marysville School District
Wendy Bart, Marysville/North County YMCA
Colin Rehm, Epidemiologist, Snohomish Health District

Community Advisory Committee Members Who Participated

Amy Ellings, state Department of Health
Alana Meyer, Sunnyside Nursery
Arlene Meyer, Sunnyside Nursery
Bev Anderson
Breeze Williams, Marysville School District
Brian Doyle
Liz Doyle, Marysville School District
Caldie Rogers, Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce
Caroline Brown, Marysville/North County YMCA
Cathy Schindler, Marysville Community Coalition, HASCO
Cecilia Saldana, Sea-Mar Community Health Center
Charlie Cobb
Christie Hilgendorf, Snohomish County Network
Colleen Fullmer, WSU Cooperative Extension
Craig Christian, Summit Rehabilitation
Curt Moulton, WSU Cooperative Extension
Deborah Foster, Tulalip Tribes
Donna Wright, City Councilmember
Elaine Cobb
Frank Busichio, Snohomish Health District
Gayle Bluhm, Marysville School District
Jim Cummins
Jody Holton, Gold's Gym
Joe Legare, Marysville School District
John Turner, Marysville Police
Josh Rosenbach, Marysville School District
Kate Moore, Marysville School District
Kayla Flynn, Marysville Parks and Recreation
Kit Blue, Summit Rehabilitation
Kris Passey, Marysville Globe newspaper
Kristin Kinnamon, Snohomish County Community Transit
Kris Wehmeyer
Lorna Henry, Tulalip Tribes
Maggie Buchholz, Marysville/Sno-Isle Regional Library
Maria Sherry, Snohomish Health District
Marrielle Harrington
Marnee Ande, Marysville School District
Melissa Quast, Costco
Michael Deal, Campfire USA
Mike Kossak, Golden Corral Restaurant
Mike Williams
Misky Bromley, Sea-Mar Community Health Center
Millie Langum
Nancy Clark, Bowenwork Health Center
Nancy Volpert
Paige Elwell, Marysville School District
Pam Wessel Estes, Snohomish Health District
Patricia Duemmell, Marysville Police
Patty Deal, Academy Northwest
Ralph Krusey, Marysville Police
Robert Dunn, Marysville School District
Ruby Barrus, KungFu4Kids
Ruth Abad, State Department of Health
Shannon Millar, Marysville School District
Sibyl Martin, Marysville School District
Steve Smith, Sunnyside Nursery
Sue Kendall
Tom Sherry
Teresa Trivett
Tracy Souza, Marysville School District
Tracy Suchan-Toothaker, Marysville School District
Victoria Mattson, Let's Dish