Belleville families were encouraged to seek out healthier lifestyles through events such as ‘street yoga under the cherry blossoms.’
BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville has been recognized for its commitment to creating a healthier place to live through initiatives that address food insecurity, support COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, and promote physical and mental health. The township has received “Healthy Town to Watch” status in the annual statewide Mayors Wellness Campaign.
The campaign is a program of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
Belleville was one of seven towns across the state to be designated as a 2021 Healthy Town to Watch. Eight towns received the top designation, “Healthy Town Winners,” and 17 received the “Healthy Towns Up-and-Coming.”
“Belleville is proud to have earned this designation,” Mayor Michael Melham said in a press release. “It is an especially impressive achievement when you consider how the COVID-19 pandemic has so greatly interrupted our lives. We have remained dedicated to finding ways to promote healthy lifestyles in our great township and creating a healthier and better Belleville in 2022.”
Belleville proved in 2021 that it takes a village to create a healthy town. Through a partnership with the school district, Belleville addressed food insecurity that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by offering free meals to students and seniors.
For the township’s youth, there were many recreational opportunities. For instance, Belleville is one of an increasingly smaller number of municipalities to offer free recreational programs.
Belleville’s seniors were encouraged to get up and get moving through initiatives such as the free yoga classes offered at the Senior Center.
Belleville also enlisted the help of community partners to promote health. For instance, Clara Maass Medical Center, a member of the RWJBarnabas Health system, was a leader in organizing COVID-19 vaccination and booster shot efforts.
Also, Signature Fitness helped sponsor the brisk stroll down Washington Avenue for dozens of Belleville municipal employees in honor of National Walking Day and the subsequent yoga sessions — an initiative spearheaded by Belleville Councilman Vinny Cozzarelli.
Families were encouraged to seek out healthier lifestyles through events such as “street yoga under the cherry blossoms” and the community bike ride that was organized by the Belleville Police Department.
One of the most eagerly awaited health initiatives was the creation of the first township community garden. Created by the township’s Green Team, the garden not only aligns with Sustainable Jersey’s mission, but also produces healthy fruits and vegetables for residents.
“The community garden and the township’s first Community Green Fair were big hits in 2021,” Green Team member Gabrielle Bennett-Meany said. “With preliminary planning for the township’s first farmers market, we have already turned our attention to creating an even healthier Belleville in 2022.”
Belleville is recognized for its healthy initiatives by statewide Mayors Wellness Campaign added by Editor on
View all posts by Editor →