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Press Release: Novi: A Three-Time Gold Medal
Winner! - City is recognized by Governor’s Council on Physical
Fitness
CONTACT: Sheryl Walsh (248) 735-5628
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Novi, Michigan, January 26, 2010 – The City of Novi was
recognized on January 25, 2010 by the Governor’s Council on Physical
Fitness with a gold level award through the Promoting Active
Communities (PAC) program for the third year in a row. By using the
online PAC assessment to evaluate local policies, programs, and
built environment, the City of Novi has demonstrated outstanding
achievements in making it easy for individuals to integrate physical
activity into daily routines. Novi is being recognized for using
innovative strategies to incorporate active living concepts into
community design, which is helping to design for prosperity and
create a high quality of life for Michigan residents. Novi was one
of only four communities in Michigan to receive the distinction.
Mayor Landry receives the Promoting Active Communities Gold
Award from Joan Lowenstein, Governor's Council on Physical
Fitness Board Member
January 25, 2010
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Since winning a silver level award in 2006, the City of Novi has
carried the momentum forward to receive gold level awards in 2007,
2008 and 2009. Community leaders and citizen-advocates have been
using policies and infrastructure to design for physical activity,
thus warranting gold level recognition for their efforts again this
year. Within the past three years, Novi has become a more
pedestrian-friendly and bicycle-oriented community due in part to
the implementation of a pathway and sidewalk prioritization and
analysis process. Using this process, the Community Development
Planning Staff and Walkable Novi committee have worked to provide a
ranking of sidewalks. Novi also uses this prioritization procedure
to annually evaluate and schedule construction and the construction
of the non-motorized transportation system. This has helped to
increase interconnectivity of neighborhoods, parks, and destination
areas and since May of 2009, another 1,800 feet has been added to
the over 250 miles of bicycle and pedestrian pathways. In addition
to pathway expansion and improvement projects, Novi also has added
several healthy, active recreation programs for all ages that
promote fitness as part of daily routines. All these efforts are
helping to make active living the way of life in Novi.
Mayor David B. Landry accepted the award from Joan Lowenstein,
Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness Board Member, on behalf of
the City of Novi. “It is an honor to be recognized by the Governor’s
Council on Physical Fitness for the work we do every day to enhance
the quality of life of community members,” commented Landry. “From
constructing new bike paths to adding new programs for seniors to
encouraging citizen engagement in youth, everything we do is about
providing the best possible living and working environment for
residents and business members.”
The PAC assessment tool was developed in partnership with the
Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan State University,
the Prevention Research Center of Michigan, and the Governor’s
Council on Physical Fitness. The Governor’s Council on Physical
Fitness, Health and Sports coordinates the Promoting Active
Communities program and encourages all communities to begin working
towards becoming an active Michigan community. The Governor’s
Council on Physical Fitness envisions a physically educated
population with the knowledge and skills to enjoy a healthy,
vigorous, and safe lifestyle in communities designed to support
physical activity.
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