Tri-Town Health on a mission

Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge want to be known for healthy living, as well as culture and beauty.

The Tri-Town Health Department has begun a two-year study to improve the wellness of residents in those three communities. The project is being funded by a $120,000 Mass in Motion grant from Health Resources in Action, which is a coalition of private healthcare providers.

The study will identify how residents can have healthier lifestyles and develop recommendations for how town officials in Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge can create and implement policies that encourage healthy eating and exercise.

"How can we make the farmers markets more accessible?" said Kimberly Kelly, Tri-Town's assistant director. "How can we get restaurants and schools to buy more local food products?"

Tri-Town officials said more sidewalks, more hiking and biking trails and more local businesses with employee wellness programs are also key to promoting healthy lifestyles.

Furthermore, the study will explore how to build upon successful health initiatives, such as the smoking ban in public places.

"What are schools doing to keep kids from smoking off school grounds?" said Kelly. Lenox Town Manager Gregory Federspiel said municipal policy changes to promote healthier lifestyles can range from new zoning regulations to encourage clustered housing which creates more open space to providing more bicycle racks in town.

Eventually, a

healthier Tri-Town area will save residents money in the long run.

"We need to look at our lifestyles if we are to get a handle on reducing health care costs," said Federspiel. "Our town's health insurance is 15 percent of the budget and climbing."

While the Mass in Motion grant only covers Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge, Tri-Town Health Department Director Peter Kolodziej hopes a countywide study can be done in the future.

"Regionalization is the only way to promote healthier lifestyles in a cost effective manner," Kolodziej said. "My vision is to have all of Berkshire County branded as a healthy place to be."