Get Involved

 

Hearts Beat Back: The Heart of New Ulm Project is a community-based and community-driven project with the goal to help reduce heart attacks in the New Ulm community. Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. You can help reduce your risk for a heart attack by being physically active, eating more fruits and vegetables, managing stress, avoiding tobacco use, and understanding your risk for heart disease. The easiest way to get involved is to take care of your health by replacing unhealthful habits with healthful habits one day at a time, one habit at a time.

 

Contact us

If you need more information about how to get involved, please call us at 507.217.5945 or email us at [email protected]

 

Apply to use our Logo

If you are interested in applying to use our logo to promote your heart healthy event go to our Heart of New Ulm Logo Licensing Page 

Take Charge of Your Community

Volunteer for a Heart of New Ulm Action Team

Every year, the Heart of New Ulm Leadership Team creates action teams, which meet for a short period of time to work on a specific project that supports a healthful environment or program that supports healthful choices.

Our current action teams include:

  • Downtown Action team: This team is working with downtown merchants and the City to implement changes in the downtown area that promote social connections and improve safety for all users. Examples might include allowing parklets, reducing the speed limit on Minnesota Street in the downtown area, investigating the possibility of restoring two-way traffic to the downtown section of Minnesota Street, and other aesthetic or safety changes.

  • Safe Routes to School Team: This team is working to increase the number of children who walk and bike to school by making the school zone and surrounding areas safer for walkers and bikers. The team is also working on implementing a “Walk, Bike Fun” curriculum through various partners to help children learn the skills needed to walk and bicycle safely. The team is also working to develop programs to help encourage walking and biking, walking school buses, and safety campaigns.

  • Bike Group: The New Ulm Bike Group is an advocacy team working to improve safety for people who bicycle by improving safety on the streets, developing designated bike routes (such as New Ulm’s Bike Circle Route), offering bike rodeos and bicycle safety classes, and promoting bicycling through various activities.

  • Coalition for Active, Safe and Healthy Streets (CASHS): This advocacy group is working to implement a Complete Streets policy in New Ulm. A report from the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute was prepared for the New Ulm community in the fall of 2013, and this group is using the report’s recommendations to improve safety for all users of the streets in New Ulm. The group oversees the work of the Downtown Action Team, the Safe Routes to School Team and the Bike Group.

The Heart of New Ulm Leadership Team will be creating additional action teams as part of its long-term strategic plan, so check back periodically for more information.

To get involved on an action team or for more information contact our office at 507-217-5945.

 Be a local champion and advocate for change

  • Encourage your employer to adopt a healthful foods policy. If food is brought into the facility, can a portion of it be a healthful option?
  • Provide low- or no-sugar options for beverages during meetings.
  • Implement walking meetings at your facility.
  • Create a walking path around your facility to encourage walking during breaks.
  • Start a walking group in your neighborhood or with family and friends.
  • Lead a walking school bus.
  • Lead co-workers on a ride to work.
  • Offer healthful options at sporting or event concessions.

Take Charge of Your Health

In New Ulm, the entire community is working together to help make health the easy choice where we live, learn, work and play. There are many resources available to help you take care of your health and well-being. While the options are limitless, here are a few resources and ideas to help you maintain or get started on the path to good health.  

Make healthier food choices

  • Support the local eating establishments that are participating in the Heart of New Ulm Project’s program to offer great-tasting options that are healthier, too! Check our list of participation restaurants.
  • Join a community supported agriculture (CSA) program from a local produce farmer.
  • Rent a community garden plot at the New Ulm Community Garden.
  • Visit the KNUJ Farmers Market in New Ulm.
  • Replace sugar-sweetened beverages with water or flavored water.
  • Replace white bread or pasta with whole grain bread or pasta.
  • Add more fruits and vegetables to your meals and snacks.
  • Ask for healthier food options wherever you choose to eat.

Be Physically Active

Check out some of the fitness clubs, classes or state parks to support your physical activity:

  • Anytime Fitness  - Phone: (507) 354-0700

  • City of New Ulm Park and Recreation - Phone: (507) 359-8344

  • Community Education - Phone: (507) 359-8561

  • CrossFit  - Phone: (507) 359-1333

  • Flandrau State Park - Phone: (507) 233-9800

  • Martin Luther College - Phone:  (507) 354-8221

  • Snap Fitness - Phone: (507) 359-8888

Participate in an upcoming walk/run event in New Ulm or in the area

Check out some of these websites for walk/run events around the state:

  • Road Race Runner - Running Events in Minnesota
  • Active - Find Running Races Near You

Participate in a bike ride in the area

Check out some of these websites for bike rides around the state:

  • Pedal Minnesota

  • Bike Alliance of Minnesota

  • Have Fun Biking (Minnesota) 

Other ideas

  • Join a recreational sports team.
  • Go for a walk, or bike ride.
  • Walk or ride your bike to work or to run errands.
  • Take a walk on your work break.
  • Walk your children to school.
  • Try a new activity or fitness class.

Attend Local Events

Lions Club Stride Walk for Diabetes 
 
 

City of New Ulm Park and Recreation Happenings 

  • Floating Pumpkin Patch- Friday, October 6 from 5-8:30 p.m. in the Rec. Center’s Pool. Select your own pumpkin in the pool, then deck it out with all sorts of fun items at our decorating station! This is a family event, suitable for participants of all ages! Bring a friend. Children 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the water. Fee $5 Rec. Center Members or $7/Non-members.
  • Spraying in the Parks – Crews will be spraying for broadleaf control in the parks beginning October 2. Please exercise caution when using park areas that have been sprayed and marked with flags.
  • Tot Swim held Fridays October 6, October 20, November 3, November 17, December 1 and 15 from 9:30-11 a.m. in the shallow area of the Indoor pool. This is a great opportunity for small children to get used to the water with others their own age during this special swim for small children. Use the tot slide and other fun toys! Adults must be in the water and children must be within arm reach of an adult at all times. Whirlpool closed during to swim. $2.25 per child. Adults free.
  • Youth Pottery begins October 5 and still has spots available. Register your child for this class that will teach your child basic and complex pottery skills allow them to use their creativity. Class is Thursdays Oct. 5, 12, 26, and Nov. 2. Cost is $35 for residents and $38.50 for non-residents and includes all supplies. Halloween Ceramics Class for ages 6 and up offered Tuesday and Thursday October 10 and 12 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Community Center. Pre-registration is required online or at the Rec. Center. Sport your creativity by cleaning ceramic pieces and glaze just in time for holiday decorating!
  • Hermann 5k Run/Walk Saturday, October 14. This is the 9th year of New Ulm’s most unique 5K and again this year will be a Hermann Tot Trot starting at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5k Run/Walk starting at 9:00 a.m. Register by going to the city website at www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us.
  • MEA special No School Swim session will be offered Thursday, October 19 from 1-4 p.m.
  • Rock on Ice returns October 20 and will run Friday nights at the Civic Center from 7-9 p.m. Please note: starting time is subject to change slightly to accommodate hockey tournament games and other rentals. Be sure to check the schedule at www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us
  • ECFE Halloween Party Friday, October 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary School Gym. Admission is just $3 per child or $6 per family max. There will be art activities, games, face painting, Moon Bounce and treats. Happy Joe’s pizza and pop will be available for purchase. There will be a photo backdrop, so bring your camera. This program is open to all children ages infant to 6 years old and their parents. Costumes are optional, but please, no masks. This event is co-sponsored by Park and Rec., Optimists’ Club and ECFE
  • Adult/Child Fit & Fun – Fun for all! This class is designed and required for one adult to participate with one child age 2-5 to have fun and be active together! Classes teach sportsmanship, respect and team building skills while improving fitness levels through specialized activities of movement and fun. Classes are offered Sundays October 29, November 5 and 12 from 11-11:40 a.m. at the Rec. Center. Register online or at the Rec. Center.
  • Rec Center closing at 5:15 p.m. October 29 – Please note this early closing time due to staff training.
  • Autumn Park and Rec Registration is open. The brochure is available online or at the Rec. Center. Be sure to check out the offerings!
  • Hermann Monument is open Saturdays and Sundays now through the third weekend of October. Admission is $2.75 per person; ages 5 and under free with paying adult. Check out the beautiful view of the MN River Valley and fall colors! 
  • For information on fees & hours of facility operation visit  www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us Email [email protected] or call 507-359-8347