Chelsea, Dexter and Manchester were recent silver award winners from the Michigan Fitness Foundation’s (MFF) Promoting Active Communities (PAC). Grass Lake and Stockbridge received bronze awards.
According to a press release from 5 Healthy Towns and the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation, Manchester saw the greatest improvement in its PAC score and went from bronze level in 2010 and 2012 to the silver level in 2014.
“The other communities each saw increases in their overall scores but not enough to push them into the next award level,” according to the press release.
In total, 18 communities in the state were recognized by MFF.
Participating communities have the opportunity to earn one of the six award levels in the program and receive a detailed feedback report from the Michigan Fitness Foundation.
Bronze Level communities are recognized for the important steps they have taken for making it easy for people to be active.
Silver Level communities are awarded for their significant progress toward making it easy for residents to be active.
Gold Communities are awarded for their outstanding achievements in making it easy for people to be active.
And, the highest level, Platinum Level communities, are recognized as models of healthy, active living.
The surveys were conducted in partnership with the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation.
The PAC survey grades communities on several levels, including community planning, ordinances, availability of walking routes, parks and programs that promote active lifestyles, bicycle facilities, and school programs.
“The Promoting Active Communities survey is a great tool for the 5 Healthy Towns Community Wellness Coalitions to use and measure how our communities are providing active living choices for residents,” said Doug Moeckel, chairperson of the Grass Lake Community Wellness Initiative (GLCWI) “Finishing the assessment boosts our local planning efforts, helps identify community needs, and raises awareness about the importance of planning for active living.
The Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation governed by a volunteer board of directors. The foundation serves the populations included in the school districts of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester and Stockbridge.
