Cultivating a Community Culture of Health Mayor Chip Johnson – City of Hernando

Cultivating a Community Culture of Health

Mayor Chip Johnson – City of Hernando

A little About Hernando…

Policy + Grants + Volunteers + Corporate Donations= New ParkLee’s Summit Park

Developer Wal-Mart Home Depot United Way Mississippi

Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks grant

Renasant Park

Making Lemonade out of Lemons…

• Win–Win for the Bank and the City

• A great model for other communities that have foreclosed properties

Kill two (or three) birds with one stone…Historic District Walking Tour educates about city’s historic past while introducing a new walking route – tour brochures paid for with a Certified Local Government Grant.

Grant + Volunteers = Exercise Opportunity

Partnerships + Grant = Bicycle Friendly City

Farmers Market Ride

Bike to Work Day

Fed Ex Rock ‘n Roll MS 150

Bike Lane Striping

Miracles in Motion

Ride of Silence

Tell Your Story – it is free!

ABC Everyday Health program

Money Magazine top 100 Best Places to Live

Featured in CNN Great American Small Town Series

Selected first ever Healthiest Hometown by BCBS of MS Foundation in 2010

Preserve America City Tree City USA Playful City USA

(Kaboom) Bike Friendly City

(honorable mention) Award-winning Farmers

Market

Civic Club Project + Existing

Park= Amphitheatre!

Gold Award Girl Scout Project = Sidewalk Inventory

State Policy (part of DUI fine buys bicycle helmets in MS) + Local Policy (Mandatory helmet use for youth) + Safety Signage (free from DOT) + Bike Lane Striping (grant) = Safer Cyclists = More Cyclists

Local Policy Requiring Sidewalks (free) + City Budget for Sidewalk Repair/installation = connected sidewalks

Partnership + Grant + Volunteers + Business Community Donations = Community Garden

Partnership with

CFNM Grant to get started Volunteers from the

community (Mayor’s neighbor!)

MSU Extension Service (advice, and tilling this year)

Master Gardeners (advice)

Donation of seeds/plants

Culture of Health + Insurance Company Program + Donated Gym Equipment = Lower Insurance Premiums for City

From No Parks and Recreation Program to “Playful City USA” (four years in a row) in six years

Support grant from state development agency for “health tourism”

Hernando Water Tower 10K

Safe Routes to School Grant = no hazard busing for neighborhood

“Healthiest Hometown” Award + Grant + Donation =Resurfaced Walking Track

Policy + Comprehensive Planning + Grant = Linear Park

Avid tennis players + MTA grant = newly resurfaced tennis courts

Two city tennis courts were resurfaced with help from the Mississippi Tennis Association via local members for a cost savings of almost $10,000. 

Just Do It