The City of Bettendorf has received the 2023 Healthy Hometown Powered by Wellmark Community Award at the Healthiest State Initiative annual awards ceremony on Thursday, April 20, in Ankeny, Iowa.
This award celebrates the successes achieved by a community to make Iowa a healthier, more active place to live.
“We received many high-quality applications, which is a testament to the work being done to improve the health and well-being of our state,” said Laura Jackson, executive vice president of Health Equity, Access and Improvement for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
“And because this work is so important, Bettendorf will receive $5,000 to continue improving the physical, social and emotional well-being of their community,” she said in a news release.
Some noteworthy achievements in Bettendorf include:
- Establishing a Workplace Wellness Initiative and Committee.
- Building two new playgrounds, adding drinking fountains and bike racks, and planting new trees in Edgewood Park, Devils Glen Park, Hollowview Park, Crow Creek Park, and Forest Grove Park.
- Adding benches and new fencing at the Crow Creek Dog Park.
- Making the Farmers’ Market more accessible by moving the location to a central part of the city – Faye’s Field on the Learning Campus.
- Creating more than six miles of paved trails
“In Bettendorf, we strive to work with our community partners to provide quality parks, trails, bike paths, sidewalks, recreation programs, access to drinking water outdoors, and many other important initiatives to promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Kim Kidwell, the city’s culture and recreation director.
“We are committed to the continued process of working together with our school districts, health department, YMCA, local businesses, and many other organizations to help ensure the wellness of our citizens.”
