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City of Marysville officials
accept their Municipal Excellence and WellCity awards at the annual AWC
conference in Vancouver. Pictured from left: City Councilmember John
Soriano, Pullman Mayor and AWC President Glenn A. Johnson, Mayor Dennis
Kendall and City Councilmember Jon Nehring.
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June 30, 2010
City's Marysville Healthy Communitiese Project honored with Municipal Excellence Award
at Association of Washington Cities annual conference June 25
VANCOUVER, Wash. - The City of Marysville was recently honored with
a Municipal Excellence Award by the Association of Washington Cities
(AWC) for its Healthy Communities Project aimed at combating obesity
through more physical fitness and better nutrition choices.
In partnership with the Snohomish Health District and a diverse
group of community partners, the City in 2006 launched the
Marysville Healthy Communities Project to identify and initiate
steps to reverse the damaging trend of obesity and chronic disease
through a community-based policy approach. A volunteer team
prioritized three action plans to improve community environment,
nutrition, and recreational opportunities.
Several noteworthy accomplishments have been successful including
the school district receiving $800,000 to implement strategies
within the Healthy Communities Plan, the Focused Fitness system has
been implemented in the school district, new bike lanes and fitness
park systems and trails have been constructed, and the bustling
Wilcox Farm Community Garden is putting more attention on the value
of growing healthy foods.
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The 2009 Marysville Healthy Communities Project Annual
Report is now available
Read and download a copy of the
2009 Marysville Healthy Communities Annual Report. The report contains a
review of the Healthy Communities Project Action Plan, priorities and successes at a glance since inception of the
initiative in 2006. |
Try out Jennings Walking
Loop
The Marysville Healthy Communities Project encourages you to
put on your walking shoes and explore the Jennings Walking Loop.
The main loop route of 3.8 miles 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]
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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.

Free Healthy Communities Family Swims at MPHS and
YMCA pools! The Marysville Healthy Communities Project invites Marysville residents
to the Marysville-Pilchuck High School Pool for four
FREE nights of swimming for the first 200 who attend. Healthy Communities Swim Nights
at the high school pool are scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on the following Friday dates:
• May 7
• June 11
• July 9
• Aug. 13
The Marysville/North County YMCA, another key Healthy Communities partner, will host FREE Saturday afternoon family
swims on the following dates and times:
• June 26 - 1:30-4 p.m.
• July 24 - 1-4 p.m.
• Aug. 14 - 1-4 p.m.
Increasing access to free and low-cost recreational opportunities is a key priority of the Marysville Healthy Communities Project to promote physical fitness and good nutrition habits, while combating obesity.
The HC Project asks each participant to donate a nutritious canned food item on arrival for the Marysville Community Food Bank. For more information call Marysville Parks at 360-363-8400.
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Leadership/Planning TeamDennis 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 ParticipatedAmy 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
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this project is to provide a framework in which Marysville's policymakers can work
together to build and support an environment that makes it easier for Marysville residents to choose healthy foods
and be physically active. Creating a healthier environment in Marysville will:
- Slow the increase in the proportion of adults who are overweight.
- Reduce the rates of chronic disease.
- Improve quality of life for individuals.
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SUBCOMMITTEES
2010 Active Community
Environments Subcommittee (Bicycling, Walking, Trails infrastructure)
Access to Healthy Foods Subcommittee (Promote eating more fruits and vegetables, Community Gardens, Food Bank support)
Recreation Subcommittee
(Promote more free/low-cost recreational opportunities)
Meeting Minutes
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PROJECT PARTNERS
- City of Marysville/Parks and Recreation
- Snohomish Health District
- Washington State Department of Health
- Marysville School District
- Marysville/North County YMCA
- Tulalip Tribes
- WSU Extension
- Marysville Planning Commission
- Everett Clinic
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INDICATORS OF AN EPIDEMIC
* Obesity rates have doubled over the last decade. * More than half of all Washington residents are obese or overweight. * Rocketing medical costs for obesity-related diseases are crippling the
state's ability to provide affordable health care coverage. * Chronic diseases account for 7 out of every 10 U.S. deaths and for
more than 60% of medical care expenditures.
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1049 State Avenue Marysville, WA 98270 Phone: 360.363.8000 Fax: 360.651.5033 www.marysvillewa.gov |
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