Safety Harbor Named 2015 Healthy Weight Community Champion
By 
The City of Safety Harbor was honored as a 2015 Healthy Weight Community Champion during the City Commission meeting on Monday night.
The award was given to 65 communities by Healthiest Weight Florida, a Florida Department of Health initiative that recognizes municipalities that work towards a healthy weight by using best practices.
During Monday’s meeting Megan Carmichael, the Community Partnership Coordinator for the DOH, presented the City Commission with a certificate proclaiming the city’s achievement, and she spoke about the purpose of the award.
“Healthiest Weight Florida is a state initiative from the Department of Health to combat obesity in Florida,” she said, noting the group is a collaboration of state agencies, not-for-profits, businesses and communities organized by the DOH.
“Currently, 36 percent of Floridians are at a healthiest weight, and with the current trend, by 2030, 60 percent of Florida’s population will be obese…and 6 out of 10 children will be obese by the time they graduate high school.”
Carmichael went on to explain why Safety Harbor was chosen as one of the 65 recipients of the second annual award.
“The City of Safety Harbor has created a Bayshore Linear Trail that extends approximately one-mile along the Tampa bay coastline,” she said. “The City operates and maintains 16 recreation facilities on more than 95 acres of parkland, and the City participates in the Let’s Move campaign, the Playful Cities program, and has been named one of the top five running communities in America by the American Road Runners Association.”
“So congratulations to the City of Safety Harbor on this award, and for making the city’s environment a healthier place for all of your residents.”
Related content:
- Safety Harbor in the “Running” For Community Honor
- Safety Harbor Vice Mayor Cliff Merz Receives Home Rule Hero Award
Congratulations! I’m proud to live here!
Yeah Safety Harbor! I love this city!!!
In my opinion Safety Harbor is the best town to walk in in America. There are sidewalks everywhere and many crosswalks are illuminated with flashing signs, though I wish that the signs across from Philippe Park were illuminated. I use that crosswalk 6 days a week (walking at least 25 miles every week!) and you can count on one hand how many people are courteous enough to slow down and stop at the caution sign. In other areas of Safety Harbor where the signs are flashing drivers tend to make a much better effort to slow down and stop.