The City of Asbury Park has been recognized as a 2025 New Jersey Healthy Town by the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute through its Mayor’s Wellness Committee, according to a March 20 announcement. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Asbury Park has received this designation.
The recognition highlights the city’s ongoing efforts to promote community health through consistent programming, strong local partnerships, and initiatives focused on food access, physical activity, and mental and emotional well-being. Asbury Park was honored alongside a record number of 45 Healthy Town communities across the state as part of the Mayors Wellness Campaign. The campaign is run by the Quality Institute in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and acknowledges towns that work to make their communities healthier places to live, work, and age.
This year’s application emphasized the Blue Bishops Living Well initiative—a three-year project connecting residents, health care providers, nonprofits, and city leaders around goals such as improving access to healthy food and supporting mental health. Programs like the Free Year-Round Farm Market at the Asbury Park Library and EpiCurious Kids have played key roles in providing fresh food to children and families in need.
“Six years in a row. I don’t take that for granted for a single second,” said Mayor John Moor. “This is a hardworking committee that genuinely cares about this community, and you can see it in everything they do. When neighbors are looking out for neighbors and making sure everyone has what they need to stay healthy, that’s Asbury Park at its best.”
Karyn Moskowitz, Chair of the Asbury Park Mayor’s Wellness Committee, said: “Asbury Park has earned this designation six years running because we never treat wellness as an afterthought. It’s woven into how we plan, how we partner, and how we show up for our community. I’m so grateful to everyone who has made that possible, and I’m excited about what we still have ahead.”
The Mayors Wellness Campaign began in 2006 with the goal of helping New Jersey communities improve public health through tools and support. It now includes more than 430 participating communities.
