By Khalida Sarwari
The city of Saratoga was recently recognized for taking action to combat childhood obesity.
The National League of Cities awarded Saratoga a pair of medals for completing key health and wellness goals outlined in First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, which encourages local elected officials to adopt long-term, sustainable strategies to address childhood obesity and offer opportunities for healthy activities in their communities. The campaign’s goal is to solve the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.
Saratoga joined the initiative shortly after it was launched about three years ago, offering opportunities for physical activity and improving access to healthy, affordable food.
“We’re so proud of getting the medals,” said Vice Mayor Emily Lo, who, along with Councilman Manny Cappello, is on Saratoga’s Let’s Move! ad hoc committee. “Saratoga residents are very health-conscious, so getting the medals will send a strong message that we are supporting a healthy lifestyle.”
Saratoga has carried out the effort by organizing community-based activities promoting health and wellness. The activities include the Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission’s Let’s Walk! guided tours through the city’s trails; a walkathon in the city orchard; and the Saratoga Youth Commission’s Walk-One-Week, a program that encourages elementary school students to walk to school in groups.
“This has been a very successful program, and the youth commission will continue to do this next year,” Lo said.
A quick look through the recreation department’s program guide will reveal a variety of fitness programs, Lo said, from fitness and dance to tai chi and yoga.
The city also offers plenty of trails for walking, running or biking. With the opening of the 64-acre Quarry Park–on Highway 9 near the Saratoga Village and Hakone Gardens–for public use in a few years, there will be even more of the outdoors to explore in Saratoga.
The Highway 9 project, which seeks to improve pedestrian and bike safety along Highway 9, is another important project that Saratoga has undertaken in conjunction with the town of Los Gatos and city of Monte Sereno, Lo said.
She said these and other community-oriented programs are the result of efforts by the city council, commissions and city staff.
“It’s the work of the entire council, because instituting all these programs has to have council support,” Lo said. “This recognition is really a message that commends the city for the role it undertakes to promote a healthy lifestyle.”
Saratoga now has three medals–two gold, one silver–and is ranked 37th nationally and fourth among California municipalities. All Let’s Move! sites have the opportunity to earn up to five gold medals.
Saratoga is one of 330 cities, towns and counties that are participating in the Let’s Move! initiative. Santa Clara County was the first in the country to have 100 percent participation of its cities in the campaign.
View Saratoga’s profile on the National League of Cities website at healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org/places/#Saratoga%2CCA.
Saratoga nabs medals in campaign to combat childhood obesity
