Communities

At the community level, changes to policy and the environment give residents the best possible access to healthful foods and places to be physically active. Changes to zoning ordinances, improvements to parks and recreation facilities, creating ways to distribute free or inexpensive fruits and vegetables are only a few of the many ways community residents, groups, and organizations can work together to improve health. Want more ideas? Call us at 315-366-2361 or email health@madisoncounty.ny.gov.

  1. Host a local farmers’ market and support Buy Madison: If your community does not already have a farmers’ market nearby, consider creating one. Buy Madison offers deals from a collection of local businesses and farms.1
  2. Increase healthy food options in convenience stores: Sometimes convenience stores are the only option for buying food, especially in rural communities. The United States Department of Agriculture put together a guide for making convenience stores healthier places to shop.2
  3. Make sure parks and open spaces are accessible and maintained: The closer people live to a park and the safer they feel in the park, the more likely they are to walk or bike to those places and use the park for physical activity.3
  4. Create maps of walking and bicycling routes in your community: Being aware of where the trails and routes are in your community will make residents more likely to use them.4
  5. Promote the NY-QUITS support line: In your community, implement signage or information about NYS’ support line for quitting tobacco. Call 1-866-NY-QUITS or text “QUITNOW” to 333888.5 
  6. Take policy-level measures to reduce smoking: This can take the form of tobacco taxation, smoke-free policies in and outside of buildings, raised age restrictions, and more health warnings.6 

Quick Links

  1. Buy Madison
  2. Healthy Corner Stores Guide
  3. Park, Recreation, and Green Spaces
  4. Madison County Trail Maps
  5. Policy-Level Measures to Reduce Smoking
  6. NY QUITS
    1. NEW Spanish-Language Text Program

Local Resources

  1. BRiDGES (website, Facebook)

Updated October 28, 2025

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Communities (3)


Want more ideas?

Call us at 315-366-2361 or email health@madisoncounty.ny.gov