Access to parks, trails, lakes and other outdoor hot spots is one of the top reasons Minneapolis is the healthiest city in the country.
That's according to livability.com, which put Minneapolis at No. 1 on its 2015 "Healthiest Cities" list. The site also considered public health data and the number of medical providers in the city in making its rankings.
Among Minneapolis' high points: fewer than 14 percent of Hennepin County residents smoke, and 87 percent say they regularly participate in physical activities. Meanwhile, most Minneapolis residents get regular health care screenings and fewer than 11 percent are uninsured.
The site noted that 17 percent of the city is covered by the park system and made mention of the city's large downtown farmers market. In a separate list, livability.com ranked Minneapolis' core as one of the top 10 downtowns in the country.
Above: Runners enjoy the trails at Lake Calhoun. Star Tribune photo by Jeff Wheeler.
