YMCA brings healthy parking spaces to Walmart

FRANKLIN — The Franklin Walmart and Sussex County YMCA kicked off celebration of the “Healthy Parking Spots Initiative” on Wednesday, Aug. 31 from noon until 3 p.m. at the Franklin Walmart.
The Sussex County Y has been involved since 2008 in working with community partners through the Pioneering Healthy Communities (PHC) coalition to create policy and environmental changes aimed at improving the health of the community.
The Sussex County Y secured a grant from Atlantic Health System through the two-year New Jersey Healthy Communities Network grant and has partnered with the Franklin School District, Franklin Mayor Nicholas Giordano, Walmart in Franklin for the health initiatives.
The “Healthy Parking Spots Initiative” Walking Awareness Program is designed to fit easily into everyone’s daily routines. To promote physical activity, Walmart and the Y have installed 8 ‘Healthy Parking Spots’ at the far end of the store lot. The signs indicate the distance from those spaces to the entrance so shoppers know how many extra steps they take.
“The Healthy Parking Spots Program will show county residents that they can increase their physical activity in small increments without much effort, and reap health rewards," said Sussex County YMCA Executive Director Jennifer Gardner. The Y plans to expand the Healthy Parking Spots program to other retailers and develop incentives for shoppers, Gardner said.
New Jersey Healthy Communities Network in 2016 awarded $860,000 to the Sussex County YMCA and 43 other organizations to support environmental and policy change initiatives promoting healthy eating and active living. The East Orange YMCA and West Essex Y also received grants.