The Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) identified an opportunity for the Beach Cities (Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach) to compete in a national contest to participate in the innovative Blue Zones Project initiative. The Beach Cities were selected to be the world's first Blue Zones Project by Healthways and Blue Zones from over 70 other cities across the nation (the Blue Zones Project principles were first tested in Albert Lea, Minnesota). The project was launched in 2010, with the Beach Cities becoming a nationally certified Blue Zones community in 2016. 

The Blue Zones concept was documented by Dan Buettner in the New York Times best-selling book, "The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest." Becoming a Blue Zones Community is in line with BCHD’s vision of a healthy beach community. Through this initiative, BCHD and the City of Manhattan Beach made permanent environmental and policy changes that support the well-being of people who live and work in the Beach Cities.

In the Beach Cities, the Blue Zones Project focused on active transportation, or improving the walkability and bikeability of the cities. With the help of the Blue Zones project, the Beach Cities were awarded $8.1 million in grant money. Healthy eating habits and reducing smoking rates were several additional priorities for the region.

Since 2010, the Beach Cities have:

• Adopted the Beach Cities Livability Plan (Fall 2011)
• Adopted the South Bay Bicycle Master Plan (Fall 2011)
• Completed preliminary analysis to assess feasibility of bike lanes on Aviation Boulevard
• Participated in “Bike to Lunch” event on national “Bike to Work” Day
• On behalf of the Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, Beach Cities Health District's Livability Committee applied for and won two grants to support livability projects: 1) Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Sustainability Planning Grant – Bicycle Mini-Corral Plan project - $40,000 and 2) SCAG Transportation Planning Grant – Aviation Boulevard Multi-Modal Corridor Plan - $277,000

Taking further action, Manhattan Beach:

• Established bike lanes on Rosecrans Avenue between Highland and Sepulveda and on Manhattan Avenue between 1st and 8th Street, and put up Bike Route sign and sharrows on Manhattan Avenue
• Coordinated with Metropolitan Water District to replace landscaping at the Chamber of Commerce,  Post Office and City Hall with drought-tolerant alternatives and improve the Manhattan Beach Pier
• Launched a Safe Routes to School project by adding pedestrian countdown signals, putting in reflective signs and replacing crosswalks

After 6 years, the Beach Cities recorded a 25% decrease in obesity and overweight rates, a 36% decrease in tobacco use, an 9% increase in exercise and the highest well-being score in the US compared to 190 metropolitan areas measured. 

Results were achieved through thousands of residents enrolling in workshops and taking pledges, implementing smoke-free policies in 2 of 3 of the Beach Cities, 100+ restaurants committing to serve healthier meal options, employers adopting policies that favored health, gardens and nutrition education in schools, and 37 walking school bus routes. 

For a further summary of results, you can visit the Beach Cities Project Results on the Blue Zones website. The 2016 Community Health Snapshot Report contains more detailed information about the Beach Cities overall health improvements. 

If you would like to find out more about the City's involvement in Blue Zones Project initiative, please contact the Environmental Sustainability Manager at (310) 802-5508.  

• What is the Blue Zones Project?

• Follow us on Facebook