One of Dublin’s hallmarks is our exceptional quality of life.
Courtesy of the City of Dublin
Megan O'Callaghan
We are a safe, resilient and inclusive city with the best environment for all to thrive — physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. Health and wellness are essential aspects of our community's overall vibrancy and are among our top priorities. Our residents share these values; in the 2022 Community Attitudes Survey, 95% of respondents said that promoting health and well-being should be a high priority for the City. Your City Council is committed to continuing to invest in these areas to ensure everyone who lives and works in Dublin has the opportunity to thrive now and in the future.
As evidence of our commitment to health and wellness, the City of Dublin was recently awarded a platinum-level Healthy Worksite Award from the Healthy Business Council of Ohio. This award recognizes employers who demonstrate a commitment to employee wellness through comprehensive worksite health promotion and programs. This was the first time the City achieved the platinum level, which is the highest honor. In addition to providing first-rate wellness programs for our workplace, the City also offers complimentary fitness programs for Dublin businesses through our FitBiz corporate wellness program, which you can read more about in this issue of Dublin Life.
Another indicator of our commitment, the League of American Bicyclists has, for the first time, honored the City with a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community award. Dublin is the only city in Ohio to earn this designation. The award recognizes Dublin’s commitment to improving bicycling conditions through investments in bike education programs, events, infrastructure and pro-bike policies. The City has partnered with Dublin City Schools, our Dublin Bicycle Ambassadors and various civic groups to ensure we have a safe, bike-friendly community that offers accessibility and recreation for all. With those partnerships and more than 140 miles of shared use paths, Dublin makes it clear that connectivity through bicycling is a community priority.
Health care is also an important amenity for residents and a vital component of our business community, with OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital continuing to provide expert care in our community, Ohio State Outpatient Care Dublin offering comprehensive and convenient medical services, Nationwide Children’s Hospital offering specialized services in multiple locations and Mount Carmel beginning work this year on its Dublin Campus, which will include an inpatient hospital and ambulatory care facility on Emerald Parkway at Bright Road. These three health care providers join Cardinal Health, Quantum Health and dozens of other health care-related businesses making Dublin an elite hub for the medical sector. Additionally, Dublin is home to the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is training the next generation of primary care physicians and other in-demand specialists in our West Innovation District.
While Dublin has much to be proud of in terms of health and wellness, we are always looking to innovate and improve. Among our many efforts to keep moving forward, we are updating our Parks & Recreation Master Plan. This includes analyzing our existing parks system and recommendations for new amenities. It builds off the existing master plan developed in 2009 and will set the framework for planning, maintenance, development and rehabilitation of Dublin’s parks, open spaces, recreation facilities and programming for a five-year horizon. The City will also be conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment this year to take a holistic look at our current environment and develop a strategic plan that accurately reflects the community’s priorities and interests. Both of these efforts will include robust engagement with the community with ample opportunities to provide feedback.
As 2023 hits its stride, I hope you are, too. Whether you’re walking, jogging or biking on our extensive shared use paths, enjoying a mid-winter’s swim at the Dublin Community Recreation Center’s indoor pool or finding respite in our 64 parks, please know that your City is invested in your well-being and dedicated to making Dublin an even happier, healthier place to call home.
Sincerely,
Megan O’Callaghan
Dublin City Manager
