Last year, the City joined the nationwide Let’s Move campaign, a comprehensive initiative, launched by First Lady Michelle Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.  Let’s Move! Mercer Island’s mission is to raise awareness for a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition and physical activity in collaboration with community partners.

Contributed photo: Diane Mortenson accepts Gold Medal award on behalf of City of Mercer Island at National League of Cities conference in Austin – November 2014

The Parks and Recreation Department completed all five of the campaign’s goals, and has recently achieved Gold medal status in each category by leading community-based activities, programs, and events with local Let’s Move community partners.

Based on this status, Mercer Island was promoted to the top tier of cities nationwide: the community, and our notable accomplishments, will be formally recognized by Michelle Obama at a special White House Let’s Move event.  Councilmember Debbie Bertlin and City Parks and Recreation Superintendent Diane Mortenson will represent the City at the event on September 16, along with a number of other communities from across the country.

The effort to reach our goals and raise awareness for a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition and physical activity is a collaboration of dedicated, caring and passionate citizens, businesses and organizations that collectively comprise our Let’s Move community partners. The City appreciates the amount of committed involvement in this program.

“Programs like this are a great example of the engagement our residents display in making Mercer Island an even better place to live, and I’m impressed with the community’s achievement,” said Mayor Bruce Bassett.
Learn more about Let’s Move Mercer Island here: www.letsmovemercerisland.com