Blue Zones Palm Springs marks one year, sets sights on schools, restaurants and city partnerships

Blue Zones Palm Springs is marking its first year of operations this month with more than 1,000 community members engaged, a growing roster of certified businesses and a pipeline of initiatives planned for year two.

Mihai Patru, executive director of the local effort, told attendees at a virtual town hall Friday that the organization has spent its first year building relationships, identifying partners and establishing a foundation for long-term change in the community — work he described as essential before visible results can take hold.

“The first year is laying the groundwork, connecting with people, identifying our partners, stakeholders, supporters,” Patru said.

The organization, which is sponsored by IHP Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Molina, Riverside University Health System, Eisenhower Health, the city of Palm Springs and the Riverside County, applies research-based strategies across three areas: places, people and policy.

On the community engagement front, a staff member said the organization met and slightly exceeded its goal of reaching 1,000 unique individuals during its first year through walking groups, Moai social circles, cooking demonstrations, gardening workshops and a well-being festival held in October.

One of the standout examples of grassroots adoption came from Ramon Park, a mobile home community in Palm Springs, where a resident organized walking groups, a social hour, stretch and yoga classes, cooking demonstrations and a community garden — making it the organization’s first participating neighborhood.

Among the milestones planned for year two, Cielo Vista Charter School is set to become the first Blue Zones-approved school in Palm Springs. Staff said the certification will come with a slate of activities including reinstating a walk-to-school program from a nearby park, a healthy carnival, a pop-up farmer’s market and enhancements to the school’s existing gardens.

On the restaurant front, Native Foods became the latest business to receive Blue Zones certification — an announcement made live during Friday’s town hall. Co-owner Misti Rausch said the process helped the business move forward on ideas that had long been put off, including sourcing produce from local farms.

“This process has inspired us to get things done that have been on the back burner,” said Rausch .

Additional restaurants, including Clandestino, are in the process of completing certification, and staff said hotels and other work sites are also being pursued.

In the policy arena, Blue Zones said it plans to work with the city in year two on advancing a master shade plan and identifying a site for a possible pop-up dog park. The organization also recently partnered with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to install new bilingual signage at local parks — signage that also adds icons addressing cannabis and vaping products.

A member of the city’s Active Transportation Committee, which advises the city on infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, said the partnership with Blue Zones has already helped improve at least one city project.

“We’re pulling the city in the right direction,” he said. “It’s a process, and we’re just at the beginning of the process, but it’s been a really good partnership.”

Patru said the organization is also fielding growing interest from neighboring cities, including Cathedral City, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, and that Blue Zones as a national organization has now reached nearly six million individuals across more than 75 communities.

He said the goal for Palm Springs in year two is to deepen community involvement and encouraged residents to attend city council meetings and town halls where Blue Zones-related initiatives may come before decision-makers.

“We need the voice of the community,” Patru said.

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