Fort Worth has gained national recognition again for helping its citizens become healthier.
The honor was bestowed by CityHealth, a national nonprofit initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.
“@CityOfFortWorth was recognized nationally for the second year in a row for the improvements the city has made to enhance our community’s well-being,” U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) tweeted.
CityHealth gave Fort Worth an overall bronze rating. The city received good marks for high-quality pre-K, curbing tobacco use among young people, having smoke-free environments and making sure healthy food is available.
It was also honored for its “complete streets” policy, which “unlocks opportunities by allowing city residents to safely walk, bike, drive and take public transit around their community,” CityHealth said.
Fort Worth was also honored by the by the League of American Bicyclists for its efforts to make streets better for bicycles, Fort Worth Business Press reported. The city worked with an organization called The Blue Zones Project on this initiative, the story said.
“These recent awards are more recognition that our city is committed to improving the quality of life of all who live and work here,” Matt Dufrene, vice president of Blue Zones Project Fort Worth, told the publication. “Blue Zones Project is proud to partner with our innovative city leaders as we work together to become one of the healthiest cities in the nation.”
The Blue Zones organization stresses healthy living through environments that encourage natural movement.
“The world’s longest-lived people don’t pump iron, run marathons or join gyms,” the organization said on its website. “Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it. They live in places where they can walk to the store, to their friend’s house or places of worship. Their houses have stairs. They have gardens in their yards.”