Workshop aims for healthy communities

North Valley Hospital, the city of Whitefish and the Flathead City-County Health Department are sponsoring a Healthy Communities Workshop July 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  

The sponsors recently participated in training to learn best practices on how healthy community design benefits public health, economic health and environmental health.

An implementation plan is being developed to bring these benefits to Whitefish. Representatives from Polson, Kalispell and Columbia Falls also will be at the workshop.

 The goal is to develop policies that facilitate active transportation and street design that optimizes public, economic and environmental health for both residents and visitors.   

The workshop is free for representatives of public health departments, city/county boards and planning commissions, bike and pedestrian committees, planners and engineers, and others working toward policy and environmental changes to support active living.

Mark Fenton, an authority on public health, planning and transportation, will lead the workshop at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Lunch will be provided. 

The schedule is:

•  11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Presentation and lunch
•  1 to 1:40 p.m.  Walking audit of Whitefish
•  1:45 to 2:30 p.m. — Work groups create ideas and recommendations to implement a Healthy Communities Plan

An RSVP is requested for lunch by calling 863-3631 or emailing ctodd@nvhosp.org.