#6: Red Oak named Blue Zones Project site

RED OAK — “I’ve been doing cartwheels all morning,” Red Oak’s Blue Zones Project Coordinator Kerry Hohbach said after the announcement Red Oak was chosen as a Blue Zones Project demonstration site Oct. 9.

The Blue Zones Project, sponsored by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Healthways, chose nine Iowa communities with populations less than 10,000 to be demonstration sites, after holding site visits in 10 communities.

The other selected communities include, Algona, Audubon, Decorah, Fairfield, Harlan, Osage, Spirit Lake and Woodbine.
With the help of experts from Wellmark, Red Oak is in the process of developing a blueprint for making permanent changes that transition people into healthier behaviors that can lead to longer, happier lives.

Blue Zones, which is a part of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s five-year initiative to improve Iowa’s national health ranking from 16th to first, will track the Blue Zones demonstration sites’ progress with the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, comparing Iowa to the rest of the country.

 “We are looking to make Red Oak an even better place to live,” Hohbach said. “We want 100 percent of schools involved and every employer, because I think this can be a lot of fun, too.”

While Red Oak’s blueprint is still in its early stages, Hohbach said she hopes to create a community garden, more bike lanes and outdoor dining areas and make all public areas tobacco-free.

“This says a lot for our community,” Hohbach said. “It could attract future businesses, industries and employers when they learn health is a top priority, and people will want to send their kids to our schools. It’s a community commitment, really.”