When the temperatures rise, so does the opportunity to come together.

Summer isn’t just a season. It’s a call to connect, to celebrate, and to care for one another. Across the Purpose Built Communities® Network, Community Quarterback Organizations are prioritizing what wellness means in their neighborhoods. It’s about more than access to healthcare. It’s about creating the conditions that allow people to thrive.

But as climate change intensifies, extreme heat has become a pressing public health concern. Heat waves are now more frequent and severe, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color who often lack access to cooling resources and green spaces. The urban heat island effect, where concrete and asphalt absorb and re-emit heat, exacerbates these conditions, leading to higher temperatures in densely populated neighborhoods.

Let’s take a look at how three of our Network Members are leading the way in community wellness this summer:

Wellness, Cookouts, and Community Visioning in Tallahassee

In South City, Florida, community wellness looks like backyard BBQs with a purpose. At The Cookout, neighbors gathered for good food and music to celebrate the changemakers building a brighter, healthier South City. There’s still a buzz weeks later, which tells you everything you need to know about the spirit of this place.

South City Foundation is doing the real work behind the scenes, partnering with local health stakeholders to roll out wellness programs, conduct community health assessments, and advocate for the infrastructure changes that make healthy living possible. They’re not just checking boxes. They’re co-creating a neighborhood where every family feels safe, connected, and cared for.

Parks, Pools, and a Culture of Wellness in Spartanburg

In Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Northside Development Group is proving that health and happiness go hand in hand. With four vibrant parks and the sparkling Butterfly Creek as its centerpiece, residents of all ages have access to trails, learning gardens, and shaded spaces to stay cool and active.

At the Dr. TK Gregg Community Center, you’ll find more than a pool, though yes, they’ve got two pools and free swim lessons! You’ll also find walking tracks, ball fields, and meeting spaces that bring neighbors together in ways that nurture both body and spirit. And at Harvest Park, fresh food from the Hub City Farmers Market is only a short stroll away. It’s all part of a strategy that says: when you invest in public space, you invest in public good.

Green Space Meets Legacy and Youth Empowerment in Wilmington

In Wilmington, Delaware, summer is when the work of REACH Riverside truly shines. With new parks designed for both recreation and reflection, and physical activity programs tailored for youth, they’ve created environments that are as healing as they are energizing. Civic memory meets future-forward thinking in a neighborhood reclaiming its story, one joyful gathering at a time.

Through the WRK Group partnership, REACH Riverside, Kingswood Community Center, and The Warehouse, community wellbeing is taking root in tangible ways. The transformation of Rodney Reservoir into a vibrant green space offers respite from the heat and a powerful reminder of what’s possible when public land is reclaimed for public good.

At The Warehouse, summer pulses with youth-led energy. From fitness classes and dance sessions to career coaching and wellness programming, teens are shaping the kind of community they want to grow up in, places where they are supported, inspired, and connected.

In Riverside, wellness isn’t a trend. It’s a tradition in the making, driven by young leaders and held by a community that knows what it takes to thrive.

Togetherness is Wellness

Healthy neighborhoods aren’t just about access. They’re about atmosphere. They’re places where people breathe easier, stay connected, and feel like they belong.

When children start with a strong foundation, families have access to quality homes, health is supported by the environment around them, and economic opportunity is within reach in their own neighborhood—prosperity becomes commonplace.

This summer, our Network Members are reminding us that wellness is more than a metric. It’s a movement, and it’s better when we move together.