Truth be told, the southern portion of the US plays host to some of the most “obese” cities. However, when a small wager was placed between two friends in leadership positions in Tucson, the city received the makeover of a lifetime.
It all began with a game of dare. Surgeon general Richard Carmona challenged Mayor Robert E. Walkup to turn the city of Tucson into a model healthy American city. In 2003, hands were shaken, the challenge was on, and the Healthy City Initiative was thus created!
This new innovative Healthy City Initiative is based on Carmona’s five pillars of a healthy community: the physical, the emotional, safety, crime prevention, and substance-abuse prevention. Along with the pillars came the building of over seven hundred miles of bikeways and seventy-two miles of shared-use paths. Additionally, plans were formulated to make the city completely walker and biker friendly, all at the cost of nearly $80 million.
Since the initiative has been established, crime is down 20% in addition to another 45% reduction in crystal-meth availability since 2006. Furthermore, high profile personalities such as the University of Arizona’s football coach, Mike Stoops, are serving as ambassadors for domestic-violence prevention.
Mayor Walkup doesn't want his and Carmona’s Healthy City Initiative to stop within the city limits. In order to spread their ideals for a healthier state and country, Walkup hosted the U.S. for a Healthy City Summit, where the countries leaders can brainstorm on how to make their own city a healthier one. Walkup also created the Mayor’s Global Alliance for Community Wellness, which is a website where civic leaders can share best practices. The website has now attracted over forty-one city managers from six different countries.
Whether it’s a bet between two friends or two cities, making the step to live a healthier lifestyle today makes for a fresher (and lighter) tomorrow. For his hard work and unprecedented will to help place his city on the right track, Mayor Walkup receives a few notches under his belt, which by now he can easily tighten around his slimming waistline. Have YOU helped save the world today?
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