AURORA — Aurora is getting an official name for the sustainable programs and healthy living initiatives that it has been working to implement in the last decade.
The HEAL — Healthy Eating and Active Living — Cities and Towns Campaign is a statewide project from LiveWell Colorado, an organization that works to prevent and decrease obesity. On Aug. 26, Aurora City Council adopted a resolution to join the project.
Aurora follows 10 other Colorado cities in the program, including Littleton, Thornton, Commerce City and Bennett.
“This campaign documents the great things we’re already doing like the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan,” said Karen Hancock, the city of Aurora’s environmental program supervisor. “And it keeps momentum going for the other (projects).”
Hancock said funding for The City of Aurora Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which was proposed in February 2012 to connect active transportation routes, has been subpar.
“There are tons of grants that are only available if you’re in the (HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign),” Hancock said. Consolidating that ongoing initiative into the HEAL campaign will open federal funding opportunities for that and other active living projects.
Some of the new projects spurred by this consolidation include creating zoning regulations for future urban gardens in the city. Currently, there are no codes or guidelines for organic developments in Aurora.
“We understand that our community wants access to healthy food, and we need to make sure that community gardens are compatible with the neighborhood,” Hancock, said.
This isn’t Aurora’s first attempt at providing easy access to locally grown food. Two years ago, Aurora used a $130,000 grant from the Tri-County Health Department to give incentives to three natural produce grocers to set up in low-income neighborhoods.
“We have always been committed to getting sources for fresh food and resources to our residents,” Hancock said.
In addition to furthering current projects, city employees and policymakers will attend a summit in Westminster on Nov. 19-20 provided by LiveWell Colorado. There, the group will impart its wisdom concerning environment-friendly programs and how to fund them.
Hancock said the group is “very serious” about educating policymakers to create sustainable developments in the community.
“At LiveWell Colorado, we know … it is critical to (address) the personal, collective and economic impact of obesity in our state,” said Julie George, director of the HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign of Colorado. “We’re confident we can make great headway by partnering with Aurora officials to benefit the lives of its residents and employees.”
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, or mmitchell@denverpost.com
