City of Monterey reviews Healthy Eating Active Living effort

Monterey, Calif. (KION) The City of Monterey is a part of the state-wide Healthy Eating Active Living campaign that’s expanding to cities across the country. At a meeting later today, Monterey’s City Council will be reviewing its performance in the campaign.

The city says it jumped on board with this campaign in an effort to combat threats to public health like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

 In order to tackle the community’s health, the city has looked at recreation, parks, the Sports Center, and even the library. The idea is that, through lectures and workshops, they can educate the public on how to be healthier. Then, with things like free community classes, residents can actually practice those skills.

“I think government should support those type of things—not impose them, but support them,” Monterey homeowner Ray Henningsen said.

“If the city doesn’t make it a priority—the way we’re structured—even though it is a priority to everybody I’m not sure that anybody else is actually going to take responsibility,” Monterey resident Caroline Knapic said.

As a part of this effort, Monterey has pushed to make sure there's a park, trail or other open space within a five-minute walk of most residents' homes.

“I think it makes all the difference in the world to have a little piece—even though it’s just a little piece—of the natural world for her to play in,” Knapic said.

Looking forward to this year, the city says it's planning to continue this effort by doing things like adding a fitness court near a trail downtown.

Details on how to find and sign up for these programs can be found on the city's website: https://monterey.org/About-Monterey/Community-Partnerships/Healthy-Eating-Active-Living-City