Plainfield Earns NJ Healthy Town Gold for 7th Year in a Row

Plainfield has done it again. For the seventh consecutive year, the city has been named a New Jersey Healthy Town by the Mayor's Wellness Campaign, and once again it has earned the program's highest recognition: a gold-level designation.

Union County Life has been tracking Plainfield's steady climb in regional health and wellness standing, and this milestone adds another chapter to a story that now spans nearly a decade of consistent effort.

The award does not come from a single program or policy. Plainfield's recognition reflects a range of work the city has sustained over time: improving health literacy with a specific focus on bilingual residents, maintaining open communication about available health and wellness resources, and building partnerships that bring physical activity programs directly into neighborhoods. A digital health information board installed outside City Hall has also expanded how residents access real-time public health updates.

A City Where Wellness Is a Shared Standard

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp tied the recognition to something larger than a single award cycle. He pointed to what he called the accumulation of small, everyday choices made by residents and city partners alike, noting that the city's progress through cross-sector collaboration has created new opportunities for families.

The Mayor's Wellness Campaign, a program of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, recognized a record forty-five Healthy Town winners for 2025. Twelve additional communities received a "Healthy Town to Watch" designation, and four earned "Healthy Town Up-and-Coming" status. Plainfield stands at the top of that field, having held gold for seven straight years.

What It Takes to Qualify

Each year, participating municipalities complete a detailed Healthy Town application that documents local health needs research, describes how the town has organized its wellness committee, and outlines the specific actions taken to make the community a healthier place to live, work, age, and move through daily life.

Plainfield's sustained success with that application reflects an approach the city describes as integrating health into everyday life, not limiting it to medical visits or clinical settings.

Find more Plainfield events, health coverage, and community news on Union County Life.


FAQ

What is the NJ Healthy Town designation?
The Healthy Town designation is awarded each year by the Mayor's Wellness Campaign, a program of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute in partnership with the NJ State League of Municipalities. It recognizes communities that have taken documented steps to improve health and wellness for their residents.

What does a gold-level Healthy Town designation mean?
Gold is the highest level of recognition in the Healthy Town program. Communities earn it by demonstrating strong research into local health needs, an organized wellness committee, and a track record of programs that make the community a healthier place to live and work.

How many years in a row has Plainfield won the Healthy Town award?
Plainfield has now received the Healthy Town designation for seven consecutive years, earning gold-level status for 2025. The award was announced on March 19, 2026.

What does the Healthy Town award mean for Plainfield residents?
The recognition reflects programs that residents can access directly — bilingual health information, neighborhood physical activity opportunities, and a digital health board outside City Hall that provides real-time public health updates.