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Satellite Beach, Florida Awarded for Building a Healthy Community for Aging Residents

Release Date: 02/05/2009
Contact Information: Laura Niles, (404) 562-8353, [email protected]

(Atlanta, Ga. – February 5, 2009) EPA is proud to recognize the City of Satellite Beach, Fla. as a 2008 recipient of the Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging (BHCAA) Commitment Award, out of only four communities and local government agencies nationally. This award program recognizes outstanding community planning and strategies that support active aging and smart growth, which improve the quality of life of older residents.

Satellite Beach is transforming itself to meet the needs of its growing aging population. By increasing the number of sidewalks, creating new parks, and rezoning its commercial strips into walkable town centers with homes, stores, and services, Satellite Beach has begun to create a place where residents can choose to walk or bike as part of their daily activities. Within this newly zoned district, the City has invested in the redevelopment of an old shopping center, creating a civic center and gymnasium with expanded physical activity classes including yoga, dance, and aerobics.

As an ocean-front community, access to the water is extremely important to encouraging physical activity in Satellite Beach. The City has been active in acquiring and preserving waterfront property. About 40 percent of waterfront property is now under public ownership. City management is enhancing opportunities to enjoy the beach by refurbishing two waterfront parks and enhancing disability access points along the beach.

The BHCAA award program will continue to recognize public-sector entities, including all levels of elected governments, from city councils to state legislatures, and their constituent parts such as planning departments and other executive branch divisions. Entities with the best and most inclusive overall approach to implementing smart growth and active aging on a variety of fronts at the neighborhood, tribe, city, county, and regional level will be recognized in this new category. Applications are due July 17, 2009.

More information on the application process: https://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/awards/

More information on the award winners: https://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/awards/2008/index.html