Stone Harbor was recognized by the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign, a New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute program, for its wellness activities of weekly walks, free fitness center passes and local restaurants participating in weekly healthy menu specials.

“That (Beach, Recreation and Tourism Committee), along with our recreation director, Miranda Duca, brought forward many innovative ideas and really connected with the employees and the community,” said Judy Davis-Dunhour, Stone Harbor Mayor.

The Mayor’s Wellness Campaign is a statewide community health program in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. The program works with mayors all over the state to improve the overall health of their communities.

Stone Harbor was recognized among 380 municipalities in the statewide program.

Davis-Dunhour and committee members established a weekly, low-impact walk for residents around different locations in Stone Harbor and provided free fitness center passes so that people could get comfortable with gym equipment and get a free nutritional consultation.

The town also established a network of local restaurants that offered weekly healthy menu specials with information about nutritional content and calorie counts.

Hanover Township, Morris County, and Highland Park, Middlesex County, were named Healthy Towns to Watch for their exercise and cooking programs.

“So many of our towns are marshaling their resources to improve the health of their residents, from organized community walks to yoga on the beach to health farmer’s markets,” said Linda Schwimmer, President and CEO of New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.