Walmart and YMCA Help Shoppers Count Steps from Parking Lot

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When it comes to good health, every step counts-literally.

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, according to one source.

As part of this grant, in Franklin, New Jersey (7.5% Latino), the Sussex County YMCA, Franklin Mayor Nicholas Giordano, and Walmart in Franklin partnered for the Healthy Parking Spots Initiative. They installed eight highly visible signs in the Walmart parking lot to tell shoppers how many steps to the store entrance. The Sussex County YMCA plans to expand the Healthy Parking Spots program to other retailers in the future.

The purpose of Health Parking Spots program is to raise walking awareness and show residents that they can increase their physical activity and improve their health by walking in small increments, which is particularly important in Latino communities, which lack safe places to walk and play, thus face higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Check out a the Every Body Walk! Collaborative’s (EBWC) Social Justice Toolkit to identify key areas where walking and walkability can help address disparities within communities.

When retailers make healthy changes-even as simple as signs in a parking lot-they are supporting a culture of health for Latinos and all residents.

Read about what Chicago public schools and the the park district are doing to keep kids safe when walking to and from summer programs.