Jacksonville, FL - On Friday, February 13th, 2015, the Florida Department of Health in Duval County will present the Healthy Weight Community Champion Award to the City of Jacksonville for its robust park system and efficient transportation. The presentation will take place during theHealthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalitionmeeting, at Nemours Children’s Clinic, from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Jacksonville will receive theHealthy Weight Community Champion Award, presented by the Florida Department of Health's Healthiest Weight Initiative, for the city's work in creating an environment where the healthy choice is the easy choice. The city is being recognized for its active parks system and for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s MobilityWorks Program.

Mayor Alvin Brown will accept the recognition; guest speakers from JaxParks and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority will share best practice policies that have been implemented in our community to help make Florida a healthy place to live, work and play. These policies and initiatives include:

• Out of 396 total parks in the Jacksonville parks (JaxParks) system, 333 are considered active parks totaling 8,117 acres.
• As a part of Jacksonville Transportation Authority's MobilityWorks Program, plans are in place to implement more than $15 million in targeted safety, mobility and accessibility improvements within 25 percent of high frequency transit corridors.

The Community Champions program is part of the Florida Department of Health’s Healthiest Weight Florida initiative.Healthiest Weight Floridais a public-private collaboration bringing together state agencies, not-for-profit organizations, businesses and entire communities to help Florida’s children and adults make consistent, informed choices about healthy eating and active living.

The Healthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition is a public-private partnership devoted to reducing and preventing childhood obesity in Duval County. Citizens, business leaders and community organizations work to create healthy environments for children and families through advocacy, education, policy development and cultural changes.

For more information about the Florida Department of Health in Duval County please visithttps://duval.floridahealth.gov.

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