DISCUSSION
In 2004, the League of California Cities (League) adopted an Annual Conference Resolution to encourage cities to embrace policies that facilitate activities to promote healthier lifestyles and communities, including healthy diet and nutrition, and to adopt city design and planning principles that enable citizens of all ages and abilities to undertake exercise.
In 2006, the League adopted a resolution to work with the Institute for Local Government and the Cities, Counties, and Schools Partnership to develop a clearinghouse of information that cities can use to promote wellness policies and healthier cities, the response to which is the HEAL Campaign.
HEAL Campaign staff, under the guidance of an advisory committee of elected and executive staff leaders from 20 cities, reviewed survey responses from over 100 California cities, analyzed existing policies, and identified policies considered key to being a healthy and active community.
The HEAL Campaign encourages all California cities to adopt one or more of these policies to become a HEAL City.
The City of Garden Grove demonstrates commitment to many of the policies advocated through the HEAL Campaign. For example, the current development of the City’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan, joint use agreements with the school district for open space, and construction of outdoor fitness equipment meet built environments for active living. Furthermore, commitment to employee wellness through nutrition standards for vending machines, accommodations for nursing employees, and encouraging use of stairways will be implemented.
Based on these commitments, the City qualifies to become a HEAL City by adopting a resolution and submitting a letter of interest to the HEAL Campaign to receive the designation as a HEAL City.