Organizers of the Blue Zones initiative visited Sussex County this week to learn more about how the concept fits into local communities.
Blue Zones is a community-driven initiative aimed at helping people live healthier, more active lifestyles and ultimately reduce healthcare costs.
“These are the lifestyle habits of the world’s longest-living people,” said Margaret Brown, Bruce Zone’s vice president of business development.
Blue Zones works with community groups and local governments to bring about change, from sidewalks and green spaces to food availability.
The team joined local government leaders on a driving tour of five communities that are leading the way in the Blue Zones: Lewes, Milford, Georgetown, Millsboro and Seaford.
“We showed them around and showed them what we were doing on the bike paths and outdoor sports facilities. They loved what they saw,” Georgetown Mayor Bill West said.
Mr West was one of the elected officials who attended a community keynote event held at the Sussex Academy Primary Campus on October 7th. The meeting was an opportunity for citizens to ask questions about Blue Zones.
Several people wanted to know how this initiative would address traffic, pedestrian safety, and the interconnection of new developments. Brown said communities will set their own priorities.
“We can’t eliminate development because we have a housing crisis, but perhaps we need smarter ways to accommodate pedestrian access and bicycling to accommodate these developments,” Brown said.
Blue Zones also held focus groups at Delaware Technical Community College on topics such as the environment, food system, and schools.
“We’re gathering a lot of information. We’ll be bringing back a report (probably in January) on everything we’ve observed – the strengths, opportunities and challenges. “We’re putting together a model of what we think will yield the best results,” Brown said.
After the report is released, Blue Zones will begin looking for partnerships to help launch the initiative in Sussex County, Brown said.
Local partners for Blues Zones are Beebe Healthcare, United Way, Delaware Health and Social Services, and Partners For Wellbeing.
Blues Zone was founded in 2004 by National Geographic explorer and journalist Dan Buettner. This concept is based on his travels to many parts of the world where people are healthier and routinely live longer, often well over 100 years old.
Buettner’s younger brother, Nick, presented the Blue Zones concept to local officials at a gathering in Lewes last November.
