Published: Monday, May 21, 2007
Slimming down in Marysville
City promotes healthy living
MARYSVILLE - Even before last week's Snohomish Health District report listing Marysville as one of four communities with more overweight adults than other areas of the county, the city had launched a program to encourage kids and families to be more active.
Marysville is one of six Washington cities to sign up with Healthy Communities, a national movement to promote healthy living through efforts such as adding parks, walking paths and community gardens and encouraging good nutrition.
This summer, the city's parks and recreation department has added low-cost programs to encourage physical activity by children and adults, said Jim Ballew, parks director.
Events include a series of all-comers track meets for kids and adults, an adult kickball league, a campout for kids and a lunchtime guided walking program through downtown.
The new programs being offered by the parks department are just part of the work being done by the Healthy Communities committee to encourage physical activity and good nutrition.
The group is looking for people who have an interest in working on projects such as developing community gardens, adding trails and streets that are interconnected for bicycling, developing a meal program for seniors, as well as physical activity and nutrition, said Doug Buell, a Marysville spokesman.
"We want expertise to come from all parts of the community," he said. Volunteers will begin work in the fall.
The need for the city's Healthy Communities work was underscored by last week's Snohomish Health District report, which found that 60 percent of adults in the county are either overweight or obese.
The report found the problem was even greater in the north Snohomish County cities of Marysville, Stanwood, Arlington and Darrington, although county health officials said they didn't know why.
Marysville began its Healthy Communities work last year with help from the Snohomish Health District.
The city was home to a number of groups encouraging physical activity and good nutrition, such as the local branch of the YMCA and the parks department, said Eric Hatzenbuehler, a health educator with the Snohomish Health District. The agency is assisting the Healthy Communities group.
"This project was organized to help them go from good to great," he said.
The city wants to create more low-cost recreational opportunities and improve its parks to meet the needs of adults and families, Ballew said.
In the past, parks often were designed to cater to kids, he said.
"We're looking at redesigning parks or designing new facilities with the entire family in mind," he said.
These might include Frisbee golf and "a climbing system mom and dad could use instead of just the 3 to 5 age group," he said.
"The emphasis is to get the community out and learn how to play," Ballew said.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
Track and field events for all ages
A series of all-ages events will be held on Thursdays beginning at 6 p.m., July 12, 19, 26 and Aug. 2 at Marysville-Pilchuck High School Stadium, 5611 108th St. NE.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event. The cost is $3 per participant.
Events include long jump, standing long jump, softball throw, shot put, high jump, hurdles, jogger's mile and relays.
All events are separated into age divisions.
How to volunteer
For more information on Marysville's Healthy Communities project, check the city's Web site at www.ci.marysville.wa.us.
To volunteer for the project, call parks and recreation director Jim Ballew at 360-363-8400 or e-mail jballew@ci.marysville.wa.us.
Marysville is one of six Washington cities to sign up with Healthy Communities, a national movement to promote healthy living through efforts such as adding parks, walking paths and community gardens and encouraging good nutrition.
This summer, the city's parks and recreation department has added low-cost programs to encourage physical activity by children and adults, said Jim Ballew, parks director.
Events include a series of all-comers track meets for kids and adults, an adult kickball league, a campout for kids and a lunchtime guided walking program through downtown.
The new programs being offered by the parks department are just part of the work being done by the Healthy Communities committee to encourage physical activity and good nutrition.
The group is looking for people who have an interest in working on projects such as developing community gardens, adding trails and streets that are interconnected for bicycling, developing a meal program for seniors, as well as physical activity and nutrition, said Doug Buell, a Marysville spokesman.
"We want expertise to come from all parts of the community," he said. Volunteers will begin work in the fall.
The need for the city's Healthy Communities work was underscored by last week's Snohomish Health District report, which found that 60 percent of adults in the county are either overweight or obese.
The report found the problem was even greater in the north Snohomish County cities of Marysville, Stanwood, Arlington and Darrington, although county health officials said they didn't know why.
Marysville began its Healthy Communities work last year with help from the Snohomish Health District.
The city was home to a number of groups encouraging physical activity and good nutrition, such as the local branch of the YMCA and the parks department, said Eric Hatzenbuehler, a health educator with the Snohomish Health District. The agency is assisting the Healthy Communities group.
"This project was organized to help them go from good to great," he said.
The city wants to create more low-cost recreational opportunities and improve its parks to meet the needs of adults and families, Ballew said.
In the past, parks often were designed to cater to kids, he said.
"We're looking at redesigning parks or designing new facilities with the entire family in mind," he said.
These might include Frisbee golf and "a climbing system mom and dad could use instead of just the 3 to 5 age group," he said.
"The emphasis is to get the community out and learn how to play," Ballew said.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
Track and field events for all ages
A series of all-ages events will be held on Thursdays beginning at 6 p.m., July 12, 19, 26 and Aug. 2 at Marysville-Pilchuck High School Stadium, 5611 108th St. NE.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event. The cost is $3 per participant.
Events include long jump, standing long jump, softball throw, shot put, high jump, hurdles, jogger's mile and relays.
All events are separated into age divisions.
How to volunteer
For more information on Marysville's Healthy Communities project, check the city's Web site at www.ci.marysville.wa.us.
To volunteer for the project, call parks and recreation director Jim Ballew at 360-363-8400 or e-mail jballew@ci.marysville.wa.us.
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