Prior to 2010, San Antonio ranked 6th in the nation for childhood obesity and 12th for adult obesity. By initiating a Complete Streets initiative, the city has improved safety and encouraged alternative means of transportation, including walking, biking, and public transportation. The city's Complete Street's policy was adopted on September 29, 2011, and took effect in October of 2011. San Antonio Metrohealth collaborated with the City’s Planning and Community Development Department and led an interdepartmental working group of planning and engineering professionals on the creation of complete streets recommendations. Implementing a Complete Streets policy has helped make the road safer for cyclists and pedestrians alike, and has provided Latino children living in San Antonio with an ...
The Joint Use Moving People to Play (JUMPP) task force was created as part of the Renew Environments for Nutrition, Exercise & Wellness in Los Angeles County program (RENEW LA County). Through collaboration 16 joint use agreements (shared use agreements) have been established, across seven school districts in the LA County area. RENEW LA County was launched in 2010, with the support of the CDC's "Communities Putting Prevention to Work" (CPPW) initiative. Through initiatives like this, shared agreements are providing a cost-efficient way to increase physical activity, for children living in areas with limited access to public parks. A recent evaluation, of schools in seven school districts with shared use agreements located in the Los Angeles County area, found that two-thirds of ...
The state of Massachusetts launched its Mass in Motion initiative in January 2009 to promote wellness and to prevent obesity. Through Mass in Motion, coordinators in Springfield identified a need to provide children with more safe places for physical activity. Members of Mass in Motion, sought opportunities for funding and identified two school gyms in areas of need, where after school physical activity programs could be developed. Because Mass in Motion had previously partnered with the Parks Department and the school district, they were able to keep gyms open during after school hours to provide children with a basketball program. Although a formal shared use agreement was not signed, Mass in Motion enabled children in Springfield to participate in after school physical activity ...
The Fort Worth 2012 Comprehensive Plan (Chapter 6: Parks and Community Services) states that the city plans on entering into shared use agreements with local school districts in order to increase the amount of park space. The city hopes to increase its park space to 6.1 acres per 1,000 residents by 2025 and recognizes the need to concentrate on areas throughout the city with the highest need. According to the author of an op-ed from the Star Telegram, compared to Austin, Houston, Dallas, Plano, and Arlington, Forth Worth lags behind when it comes to park space. With only 5.3 acres of land per 1,000 residents, and the city rapidly growing, some believe that more should be done to accommodate the need for more ...
According to a report produced for the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia (HHCGA), Latino students in Georgia have the lowest levels of physical activity, when compared to other groups. The state of Georgia recently ranked number 2 in the country for childhood obesity. In efforts to reduce this number, state officials are reaching out to school districts, through the Shape Georgia initiative, and asking them to grant elementary school children an additional 30 minutes of physical activity throughout the day. 30 minutes of Daily Physical Activity They are asking schools to implement the 30 minutes of physical activity on a voluntary basis, in addition to the time children already spend in PE class. Schools like Sope Creek and Yargo Elementary have already seen great success by ...
Three groups, Forest Manor Multi-Service Center, Community Alliance of the Far Eastside and United Northeast Community Development Corporation, have formed the Indy East Food Desert Coalition. They are determined to give their members on the east side of Indianapolis access to healthy, fresh food options. They have partnered with Butler University’s Urban Ecology Department to get some real data that they believe will help them more efficiently minimize the problem that has had real health impacts. Butler University will compile all the data from a questionnaire being distributed online and door to door. The hope is that some real, hard numbers will get the attention of government officials and foundations that can offer them a financial boost. They want to see out preliminary plans ...
For many years, Baltimore’s inner city neighborhoods have been missing supermarkets and healthy food options, but in one neighborhood that’s about to change. In early March 2013, Apples and Oranges Fresh Food Market opened its doors for the first time to the East Baltimore community. With the goal to bring healthy, affordable food into the neighborhood, Apples and Oranges also boasts a large prepared foods section as well. In addition to offering fresh produce and healthy prepared food, the market boasts no sugary drinks in sight, a unique and welcome feature of this new healthy ...
A New York City school in Flushing Queens has become the first school to adopt an all vegetarian menu for school meals. They are creating a nutritious and healthy environment for students, while giving students the opportunity to eat more fresh vegetarian foods. This meat-free and fish-free menu is a perfect match here because many of the students attending this school are already accustomed to vegetarian diets because of the large population of students hailing from East Asian counties. The "inaugural meal — which schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott sampled alongside dozens of kids — consisted of black bean and cheddar quesadillas served with salsa, red roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli." Among the other items on the menu are tofu vegetable wraps, vegetarian chili with brown ...
After struggling to be placed on a list of projects to be funded by the 2012-2017 Bond, residents living in the St. James and Normoyle Park Area located in the Southside of San Antonio (district 5), secured funds to create a safer park for their children. A united community and support from local residents was an important aspect of demonstrating the need for improvements in this park. In this video residents from district 5, near Normoyle Park, gathered to discuss why improvements to the park were needed. The need for lights in the park, as well as fairness in how bond funds should be distributed among the community were discussed. This video demonstrates how Maria Lugo, Gerry Noriega, and residents from the St. James and Normoyle Park area addressed the city council to thank former ...
