Chicago Park District to Offer Free Heart Screenings in February as Part of New Health Campaign

(mediaphotos / iStock) (mediaphotos / iStock)

The Chicago Park District is leaning into the wellness aspect of its mission, announcing a new “Healthy Heart” campaign at Wednesday’s meeting of the board of commissioners.

Not coincidentally, the board’s new president, Dr. Marlon Everett, is a cardiologist. Rosa Escareño, the district’s CEO and general superintendent, credited Everett for bringing increased focus to the role parks play as hubs not only for recreation but also for overall health.

The campaign is launching with a series of free heart screenings in February, held on Thursdays at a different park each week. If a condition is identified, people will receive information on additional resources and treatment. 

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The Chicago Department of Public Health is partnering on the screenings. CDPH pointed the Park District to priority community areas where residents’ life expectancies are significantly lower than the city’s average and rates of chronic disease are highest, Colleen Lammel-Harmon, wellness manager for the district, told commissioners.

The health department is working with its sister agencies and other partners to funnel resources and shared efforts to these spaces, Dr. Ajana Patel, CDPH medical director, added.

“People gather in the parks, so it’s a great place to do these (screenings),” Everett said in response to Lammel-Harmon’s presentation.

He urged people to promote the screenings to boost attendance. A large turnout, he said, could lead to an expanded program beyond February.

Here are the dates, times and locations for the heart screenings:

(Chicago Park District presentation)(Chicago Park District presentation)

Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 |  [email protected]


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