Mayor DelCore and the township were honored April 21 as one of eight communities in the state to be designated a New Jersey Healthy Town, based on participation in the Mayors Wellness Campaign and other measures taken to ensure healthy living in the township.
”We are very proud of this,” Mayor DelCore said.
The Mayors Wellness Campaign is an initiative with the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, and supports mayors who are working with community health. It is a program to encourage residents to participate in daily physical activities, and encourages mayors to play an active role in improving health in their communities.
In order to receive the designation, communities must meet several requirements, namely, being a participant in the Mayors Wellness Community for one or more years; maintaining sustainable programs in the campaign’s categories of youth in motion, seniors in motion, employers in motion and community in motion; and sharing program information with other communities.
Hillsborough Township received the designation because of several programs for all ages. For Youth in Motion, such programs have included the Teen Center at the Hillsborough YMCA on East Mountain Road and the Shoot Hoops with the Mayor program.
Other programs have included an indoor walking track for seniors, “Free Senior Day” at the Hillsborough Fitness Club, maintenance of the Mayors Wellness Campaign Community website, Heart Awareness Month lecture with Dr. Jeff Levine, Family Day at the Hillsborough Pool, Racquet & Fitness Club, free fitness evaluations for employees, healthy snacks in employee cafeteria vending machines and lunchtime walking routes.
Mayor DelCore said the township will receive a plaque or certificate for its designation, but the title is especially beneficial to the community in maintaining its sustainability program, which gives points for participating in a healthy living campaign.
”It is part of the sustainability plan, and we earn points for that,” he said. From there, the township can receive additional grant money for future programs related to healthy living and sustainability. “When you get recognized by the state, there are more chances for grant money.”
Although there is nothing specific planned for the Mayors Wellness Campaign at this point, for the future, Mayor DelCore said, the township will continue looking into ways of providing more healthy living programs for residents.
”We will continue to look at possible events and partner with local agencies,” he said. “(We will do what we can) to promote wellness.”
Mayor DelCore said these events always draw a high number of people to participate.
”We always have a good turnout,” he said. “The businesses and community are partners, so it is positive on both ends.”
Other towns that received the designation were Bridgewater, Clifton, Hamilton Township, Madison, Nutley, Parsippany and Woodbridge.
For more information about the Mayors Wellness Campaign, visit the website at mayorswellnesscampaign.org.
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