Worksites

Congratulations to the first Blue Zones Project Approved™ Worksite in Southwest Florida, Wyndemere Country Club!

Jimmy Lynn, General Manager of Wyndemere, has been an ardent supporter of the Blue Zones Project^® and serves on our Steering Committee. Jimmy and his team completed the Worksite Pledge in record time, scoring 75 points, 3 points more than required. Wyndemere now offers free employee fitness and nutrition coaching, have created indoor and outdoor walking paths for employee use, and offer healthy snacks and beverages to employees at no charge. Their well-being campaign is called “Let’s Get Movin’, Healthy Habits For Life,” and it’s taken on a life of its own. The club’s members have noticed it, and also want to participate.

Many other worksites are working towards Approval status, including Artis-Naples, Avow Hospice, London Bay Homes, Moorings Park, the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, and Sunshine Ace Hardware.

    Grocery

Grocery Stores are also making changes to promote well-being. Whole Foods Market in Naples was our first Blue Zones Project Approved Grocery Store. This happened to be the first Whole Foods Market located within a Blue Zones Project demonstration community, and they were eager to participate. Whole Foods Market in Naples has also offered Blue Zones Inspired cooking classes.

Wynn’s Market in Naples next earned Blue Zones Project Approval. Since they started making changes in displays and merchandising they have seen a significant increase in the sales of healthy foods and beverages. They even created a Blue Zones section in their grab-and-go deli case to make the healthy choice easier for their customers.

   Restaurants

Congratulations to the first Blue Zones Project Approved Restaurant, The Cider Press Café. Business Director Roland Strubel and Culinary Director Johan Everstijn offer their patrons a truly memorable and healthy dining experience. Everything served is plant-based and gluten free.

There are now more than two dozen restaurants working towards Approval ranging from waterside seafood favorites like The Dock at Crayton Cove and Riverwalk at Tin City, to uptown steakhouses like Shula’s, and old favorites like Mel’s Diner and Greek Gourmet. Stay tuned for exciting news as they complete their pledges. 

     Faith-Based Organizations

Unity Church of Naples has earned designation as Blue Zones Project Approved, becoming the first faith-based organization in Florida and throughout the country to achieve this status. To achieve this designation, Unity of Naples installed new bike racks for their congregants and visitors and reinforced their smoke-free campus policy by updating their no-smoking signs.

"Unity of Naples is excited to be part of this important area-wide initiative to foster even more healthy opportunities for everyone,” said Diane Scribner Clevenger, Unity of Naples Reverend. “We recognize that healthy living means more than just eating well. We feel that it is a blessing to actively cultivate an environment where people can engage in healthy activities and spiritually support themselves and each other to live full, happy, productive lives.”

Other Faith-Based Organizations are working towards Approval status including St. John the Evangelistic Catholic Church, Celebration Community Beach Church, and Beth Tikvah.

   Food Policy

Over the past few months the Healthy Food Resource Committee connected with local restaurants to determine a need in changing children's menu options to make the "healthy choice the easy choice." Local restaurants asked the Committee to put together a listing of healthier options to be incorporated into their existing children's menus. Moving forward, we are hopeful local restaurants will provide these healthy alternatives for their patrons.

   Built Environment Policy

The City of Naples passed a Complete Streets Resolution on November 4, 2015. The Blue Zones Project will continue to partner with the City of Naples, providing any resources needed in conjunction with Complete Streets and the Central Avenue Marquee Project for our first phase of the Southwest Florida market. In November, The City of Naples also received the Bronze Bicycle Friendly Designation from the League of American Bicyclists. The City continues to be a regional champion for walkability, bikeability, and Complete Streets. Collier County staff will also begin to determine any language changes within the Comprehensive Plan in order to incorporate a multi-model (bike, ped, transit) transportation network.

   Tobacco Policy

The Tobacco Free Collier Partnership visited more than 35 local parks to determine whether or not there was existing smoke-free signage located near playgrounds. Most City parks have suggestive signage located near the playground, however a lack of signage exists within our local County parks. The Partnership will continue to speak with the local Parks and Recreation department about opportunities to incorporate signage where children play. 

   Schools

There are currently four schools from the Collier County Public Schools participating in the project as Pilot Schools. They are Lake Park Elementary, Seagate Elementary, Gulf View Middle School, and Naples High School. The Project was introduced to parents, staff and students via a district-created video and letter. Following the viewing of the video, Blue Zones Project team members were invited to speak to parents and members of the School Advisory Committees (SAC) to answer questions.

Every school has a Healthy Schools Team, headed by a Wellness Captain. The Team will choose pledge items that work well with the school’s culture, and help implement them once they are approved by the School’s Advisory Committee (made up of the principal, parents, teachers, staff and students). As of this writing, the SAC’s at each school are still reviewing pledge items being brought to them by the Wellness Captains and making determinations.

All Pilot schools have already been implementing healthy activities through the District’s Wellness Programs, and Blue Zones Project will supplement these efforts. In October Seagate Elementary participated in the International Walk to School Day, organized by Safe Routes to School All Children’s Hospital. Students and parents met a half mile away, and walked to school with great fanfare. The North Collier Fire Rescue District provided a vintage fire engine for photo ops, while various units from the City of Naples and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office made sure roads were kept safe for the walkers.

Though no ideas are yet “set in stone,” some being considered by the Pilot schools are: starting a school garden, starting a morning walking program, increasing water consumption through the use of water filtered fountains, and educating parents about nutritional options. We are excited to watch their progress.

    Individuals

If you've already taken the Blue Zones® Personal Pledge, you are well on your way to better well-being. Wouldn’t it be great to get more of your friends and family to join you? Share this post with others and invite them to visit southwestflorida.bluezonesproject.com to learn more about the Project, attend a Blue Zones Project event, and take the well-being pledge. Our goal is to obtain 2,000 more pledges this month. You can help us get there and make SW Florida a healthier, happier and more connected community in the process!