Winter Park Kicks Off Tobacco-Free Parks Month February 1
The City of Winter Park has declared February as Tobacco-Free Parks Month.
Approved January 24, the Tobacco-Free Parks proclamation is the first of what is expected to be many health-related policy changes and programs inspired by the work of the local ACHIEVE Healthier Communities Leadership Team.
ACHIEVE, (Action Communities for Health, Innovation & EnVironmental ChangE), is a CDC-inspired, Winter Park Health Foundation-convened initiative dedicated to enhancing the health of all residents by making the healthy choice the easy choice. The group hopes to bring about change through the development of policies and practices that focus on increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and eliminating tobacco use.
The ACHIEVE team includes local leaders and stakeholders from the public and private sector, including Winter Park Health Foundation, the City of Winter Park, Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Orange County Public Schools, the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Health Department, the Central Florida YMCA, Orange County Government, UCF, Publix and St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.
Members have come together as part of ACHIEVE to take stock of the health and wellness of the community, and to look for opportunities to make positive, lasting changes by promoting policy, systems and environmental change strategies.
The group has identified four focus areas:
- Tobacco-free public places
- Safe and friendly streets for all users (including walkers and cyclists)
- Worksite wellness
- Health-supporting programs and practices at the new Winter Park Community Center
ACHIEVE members Mayor Ken Bradley and Assistant City Manager Michelle del Valle, spearheaded the group’s efforts to encourage the Tobacco-Free Parks proclamation. In the future, the group is expected to look for ways to inspire a more permanent tobacco-free designation.
For more information about the CDC’s national ACHIEVE initiative, go to: www.achievecommunities.org
