OCEAN CITY — Despite its French fry and funnel cake reputation, Ocean City is taking strides to nurture a healthier community by seeking a Healthy Eating Active Living, or HEAL, designation for the city.
During last week’s Recreation and Parks Committee meeting, Director Susan Petito presented a draft resolution seeking a HEAL city designation for the resort. On Monday, based on a recommendation from the committee, the Mayor and Council approved the resolution.
Essentially, the HEAL city program, which is gaining momentum in the region and around the country, is designed to promote a healthier lifestyle for residents and visitors and help stem the growing trend of obesity. Participating communities offer residents and visitors healthier alternatives aimed at improving wellness.
From more farmer’s markets to healthier alternatives in vending machines, for example, the program seeks to improve the eating habits for residents and visitors. The program also encourages more bike paths, walking trails and other recreational opportunities. In short, the program encourages better nutritional choices and healthier lifestyles.
Recreation Supervisor Kate Gaddis said the resort currently participates in a similar program, but adding the HEAL designation could advance the existing healthy choice initiatives.
“We are already a Healthy Maryland Community,” she said. “A lot of these things we are doing already.”
Petito agreed Ocean City already exceeds some of the goals spelled out in the HEAL program, but formalizing the initiative in resolution form would only enhance the healthier lifestyle choices.
“Even though we are doing a lot of these things, but putting it in resolution form, we can qualify for the HEAL City designation,” she said.
Gaddis the HEAL resolution would nurture partnerships between allied agencies with the same goals.
“It’s about getting the information out to businesses,” she said. “It is coordination and sharing of information, but it’s not obligating us to do anything.”
Other than following up on the initiatives in the program, there is no major commitment from the resort in seeking the HEAL designation and there could be some financial benefits.
“There is very little or no financial obligation to do this,” said Petito. “We’re actually hoping getting the HEAL City designation will open up some grant funding for the town.”