Village Manager Discusses “Silver” Wellness Award

The Manchester Mirror recently reported that the Village of Manchester received the 2014 Promoting Active Communities (PAC) Silver Level award. Read more about it HERE. After receiving the Bronze Level award for several years previously, the unique approach taken by the village to assess its progress toward promoting an active community, paid off!

This year, when filling out its PAC assessment, the village pulled in help from a wide array of sources, including the Village Manager and the local Wellness Coalition. It was this approach that put Manchester over the top when it came time to hand out awards.

“It is not easy for a community of our size to reach the Silver Level,” said Village Manager Jeff Wallace. “But Manchester has been making marked changes to encourage activity and we are fortunate to have a community and a council that embraces this effort to create places and spaces that promote healthy living.”

Recently, Matt Pegouskie, Community Investment Manager of the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation, talked with Wallace to see how the PAC helps Manchester stay on track with its community planning to advance the health of all residents. This interview is abridged from its original form as provided to the Mirror.

Village Manager Jeff Wallace, recently spoke with the  Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation about Manchester’s  Silver Level award through the Promoting Active Communities (PAC) program.

CWF: Why did you choose to fill out the Promoting Active Communities (PAC) program assessment?

Wallace: We have actively filled out the PAC survey every two years over the last eight years to give us a benchmark of how we are implementing suggestions and ideas to help become a more active community. We are fortunate to have the 5 Healthy Towns sponsorship by the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation to help coordinate and fulfill some of the programs.

CWF: How has completing the PAC assessment changed opportunities for activity in your community?

Wallace: We have used the assessment to identify and implement community needs. This awareness has brought us to work together with residents on a shared-use trail which will coincide with other downtown improvements and will help tie together local parks and the Leonard Preserve, a Washtenaw County Land Preserve. It has also brought us to work together with the Manchester Community Schools on a Safe Routes to School program which led to the Village applying for a Safe Routes to School Grant.

CWF: What benefits have you seen from the completion of the PAC assessment?

Wallace: The local Manchester Wellness Coalition has brought together many community groups to lead the change for healthy and active lifestyles by planning and supporting new projects which will help promote healthy lifestyles for our area residents.

CWF: 2014 was the first year Manchester achieved a Silver Level award. What does that mean to the community?

Wallace: This means that all of the groups we are working with in our community are advancing the ideals to make the Village of Manchester a more active community. With this success we can use the Summary and Next Steps approach from the report to continue to promote Manchester as an Active Community.

CWF: What advice do you have for communities filling out the PAC assessment in the future?

Wallace: Bring together leaders from government, schools, local organizations and service clubs together that have similar missions. By bringing them together as a team you will have a better chance to facilitate change from many directions and help promote the entire community as a whole.

CWF: Has the PAC had helped Manchester secure grants associated with projects for the community?

Wallace: Yes! One example is that we are currently working on a Safe Routes to School Grant which is supported by both the community Master Plan and the Parks and Recreation Plan. By having these in place, when opportunities like this come available we have much of the homework and support already in place, making the application process easier.

Wallace concluded the interview by saying, “We are fortunate to have the support of the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation and the Manchester Wellness Coalition to work with us on many active community ideas that we would not have been able to do alone.”

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.