Iowa is trying to become the healthiest state
OTTUMWA, IA -- Ottumwa is heading down the right path towards becoming a Blue Zones City.
The Blue Zones Project is designed to promote a healthier lifestyle among Iowans.
“It doesn’t take just me, or just you. It takes the entire community to make this happen,” says Director of Wapello County Public Health Lynelle Diers.
Diers is one of the main people that is heading up this effort. She stresses that local restaurants need to get on-board with this initiative by making healthier options more visible on their menus.
Putting bike racks around Ottumwa would also make Ottumwa a more bike-friendly city.
The city of Ottumwa was notified Friday Feb. 10 that it was selected to be a visit- site unit.
“They will bring a team down here and they’d like to see the community and then they want to talk to us. They want to see how ready we are for this initiative,” says Diers.
This is the next step in the process. 3 or 4 cities will ultimately be chosen. Fairfield is among contenders, as well.
Diers says that Ottumwa will move forward on its own initiative even if it isn’t chosen as a Blue Zones City.
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