Fresno has achieved a bronze medal in the 2025 CityHealth Policy Assessment, a recognition that underscores its commitment to implementing evidence-based health policies. The assessment, released on March 25, 2025, evaluates the health policies of the nation’s 75 largest cities, focusing on twelve key areas aimed at enhancing community health and equity. This year, Fresno joined a select group of 51 cities recognized for their efforts in promoting public health.
Among the cities in California earning bronze status alongside Fresno are Anaheim, Irvine, Riverside, and Stockton. Nationally, other cities achieving this ranking include Austin, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Detroit, Michigan.
The CityHealth initiative, a collaboration between the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, highlights policies that are instrumental in fostering healthier urban environments. Fresno excelled in six out of the twelve assessed categories, earning silver medals in both complete streets and earned sick leave policies.
Fresno’s complete streets policy received accolades for requiring compliance across various transportation modes. However, it did not meet the gold-level criteria, particularly in areas concerning equity measures and community engagement. In terms of earned sick leave, Fresno benefits from California state law, mandating that employers provide a minimum of 40 hours of paid sick leave annually for family care and domestic violence recovery, which is eight hours short of the gold standard.
In addition to its silver medals, Fresno earned bronze accolades in four other policy categories: flavored tobacco restrictions, greenspace, high-quality accessible pre-kindergarten, and safer alcohol sales. The city’s flavored tobacco policy prohibits the sale of certain flavored tobacco products without penalizing youth, while its greenspace policy aims to improve access to parks and increase tree canopy goals with measurable targets.
Despite these achievements, Fresno did not earn medals in five critical policy areas, including affordable housing trusts, eco-friendly purchasing, and smoke-free indoor air. Although the city has implemented some smoking restrictions, it fell short of receiving recognition in this category.
Nationally, CityHealth awarded a total of 51 cities with overall medals this year, including eight gold, 26 silver, and 17 bronze. Notably, Chicago secured its first gold medal in this assessment, marking a significant milestone for the city.
According to CityHealth, approximately 47.6 million Americans now reside in cities that have earned overall medals, reflecting an increase of nearly 4 million from the previous year. This assessment was conducted in partnership with the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.
The results of the CityHealth assessment serve as a vital benchmark for cities across the United States, highlighting the importance of comprehensive health policies that prioritize community well-being and equity. As cities strive to improve their rankings, Fresno’s recognition as a bronze medalist reinforces its ongoing commitment to fostering a healthier environment for its residents.
