Fort Pierre was given Wellmark’s first ever 2018 Healthy Hometown Community Award during the recent Chronic Disease Partners/Better Choices, Better Health® Meeting.
The award recognizes Fort Pierre for its accomplishments in health improvement initiatives within the community.
Wellmark executive vice president Laura Jackson says the community has earned the title of 2018 Healthy Fort Pierre and will receive $5,000 to continue the work of improving the physical, social and emotional well-being of the community.
Some noteworthy achievements in Fort Pierre include:
- Started a community garden with 24 raised beds, providing fresh produce via a delivery service to more than 150 senior nutrition program recipients and at least 80 other individuals
- Enhanced a weekly farmers’ market by creating a sidewalk festival atmosphere through childrens’ activities, live music, meals and beverages, and a variety of vendors
- Rehabilitated a trail, installed a bike repair station, and resurfaced 5,300 feet of recreational trail impacting 150–200 people daily
Pierre, Aberdeen, Dell Rapids, Rapid City and Sioux Falls were the other five finalists.
To learn more about the work Fort Pierre is doing to support the well-being initiatives for a healthier, more active community, visit www.fortpierre.com.
Photo: (L-R): Kiley Hump, chronic disease prevention and health promotion administrator for the South Dakota Department of Health; Mayor Gloria Hanson; Angie Brown, community health manager for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
