2021 Healthy Hometown Award
posted in Leisure Services on February 19, 2021
Waverly receives 2021 Healthy HometownSM Powered by Wellmark Community Award
WAVERLY, Iowa (Feb. 19, 2021) — Waverly was presented with the 2021 Healthy HometownSM Powered by Wellmark Community Award during the Healthiest State Initiative Annual Awards presentation held virtually during a live Facebook event on Feb. 18, 2021. The award recognizes Waverly for its accomplishments in health improvement initiatives within the community. This is the second year Waverly has received this prestigious award.
“We are pleased to present Waverly with the 2021 Healthy HometownSM Powered by Wellmark Community Award,” said Laura Jackson, Wellmark chief health officer. “As a multi-year award winner, all the cumulative work that has been done within the community is to be celebrated. And because this work is so important, the city will also receive $5,000 to continue the important work of improving the physical, social and emotional well-being of the community.”
Some noteworthy achievements in Waverly include:
- Improved the Cedar River Parkway corridor, including reconstruction of the Cedar River Bridge to include a hiking and biking trail
- Completed the Bremer Avenue streetscape project with new bike racks and improved signage
- Enhanced Prairie Park with a shelter house and basketball and pickleball courts
- Added six raised community-sharing garden beds
“The Waverly Area Partnership for Healthy Living (WAPHL) Committee strives to continually enhance the health and well-being of not only Waverly, but all of Bremer County,” said Garret Riordan, City of Waverly Leisure Services Director and member of WAPHL Committee. “We are honored to once again be considered one of Iowa’s healthiest communities. Receiving the Healthy Hometown Powered by Wellmark award last year helped promote our vision to encourage the citizens of Waverly and the surrounding areas to make healthy choices and enjoy the active lifestyle our community offers. We look forward to continuing our vision with the Healthy Hometown Powered by Wellmark partnership.”
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About Iowa Healthiest State Initiative
The Healthiest State Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization driven by the goal to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. By engaging worksites, communities, schools, retail food, organizations, institutions and individuals, we can inspire Iowans and their communities to improve their health and happiness, and ultimately achieve our goal. For more information, visit IowaHealthiestState.com.
About Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Wellmark, Inc. (Wellmark.com) does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., and Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than 2 million members in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., and Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.