Parent organization Real Food for Kids (RFFK) aims to improve the nutritional quality of food served at the public schools in Fairfax County, Va. These parents want all students to get healthy, fresh food that will fuel their bodies for physical and educational performance. As stated on their website: “We know, just as you do, that when a child is well-fed with nutritious, real food, he/she is healthier, better behaved and better able to succeed in and out of the classroom.” By doing research and educating themselves, they discovered the volume and breadth of processed foods and foods with artificial dyes and additives being served at their schools, even though these foods were allowed by USDA nutrition guidelines for school lunches. The parent group advocated for a new ...
The Walkable Community Program, an initiative created by the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), exists to inform, unite, and support local residents and organizations in improving the walkability of their communities. Anyone interested in promoting walking or biking activities in their community can contact the MPO to get assistance in starting a walking program in their community. Every third Wednesday of the month the MPO's Pedestrian Mobility Advisory Committee (PMAC) meets to develop plans for a safe and accessible network of sidewalks and pedestrian amenities throughout the community. Citizens wishing to participate on this committee are encouraged to attend meetings. Resources The Walkable Community Program Home Page Information about ...
According to this article, children in Taylor, Texas near Austin, have safer access to schools since the city was awarded $574,000 in Safe Routes to School infrastructure funds from the Texas Department of Transportation in 2008. The city strategically partnered with Taylor Independent School District to apply for funds to construct a sidewalk that would connect four schools: two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Once construction of the sidewalks are complete, the city anticipates that more children will be walking to school. While some components are funded by the state, federal funding is also available for these programs. Communities and school districts across Texas, have developed Safe Routes to School plans. Funding for Safe Routes programs exists for ...
In 2012, the Better Block Team and City of San Antonio residents took some time to see what West Commerce, a four-lane street, would look like if improvements were made to encourage walking and biking. The Better Block event allowed citizens to imagine what their community would look like with temporary bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. City officials looked to the reaction of constituents to decide how funds from the 2012 bond program would be spent. Read More About San Antonio's Better Block Experiment Recap of Final San Antonio Better Block for 2012-Case Study: Transportation and Retail Study Testing West Commerce Temporary Transformation into a Better Block (San Antonio Express ...
According to the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF), in September 2012, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed The California State Park Stewardship Act (AB 1589) and AB 1478, which require the state's Parks and Recreation Department to develop a plan to increase state park revenues by July 1, 2013. These bills will allocate $20 million in previously-undisclosed park funds, establish moratorium on closures, and offer new opportunities for revenue. Read the CSPF press release CSPF Applauds Governor Brown for Signing AB 1478 & AB 1589 to learn more about how these laws will help in managing California's parks system. In 2010, Californians voted against Proposition 21, which would have charged an $18 vehicle fee, to help fund and maintain parks. Between 2010-2012, 70 parks in ...
Latinos from low-income neighborhoods of Southern California are less likely to have access to green space, parks, and other recreational facilities. Robert Garcia of The City Project wants to change this by seeking green justice, through equal access of green space for all. Although, Los Angeles is one of the most heavily populated cities in the country, it continues to have a limited amount of parks, especially in underserved communities. Residents of Maywood, a predominantly low-income, Latino neighborhood, suffer disproportionately from high rates of obesity and have only 0.6 acres of park space per 1,000 residents. According to Robert Garcia, of The City Project in California, parks in California are a civil rights issue, because not everyone has equal access to them. This ...
Despite the voters' rejection of Proposition 21----a tax that would have provided a source of funding for Califonia parks---The City Project, a non-profit organization based out of California, continues to work on plans towards equal access to parks and recreation, for underserved communities in California. Members of the City Project believe that parks would create thousands of job opportunities, and reduce the health burdens of those that lack easy access to parks. According to this blog post, The City Project is working on an equity plan to distribute park benefits. Proposition 21 (2010) would have provided $500 million per year for California’s 278 state parks through an $18 fee on vehicles. On November 2, 2010, voters voted against this measure, and as a result dozens of ...
According to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) there is a need to update existing policies in order to provide funds for the development and upkeep of parks and recreation facilities throughout the nation. The NRPA believes that a piece of legislation called the Community Parks Revitalization (CPR) Act (2013) could help by allowing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide funds to local communities for: developing new parks and improving infrastructure;
providing matching grants for innovative programming that would target at-risk youth, returning veterans, and military families; and
creating a federal program that would provide loans for larger scale parks and recreation projects. The Community Parks Revitalization Act (CPR) was introduced ...
Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago has launched the Chicago Plays initiative to improve the condition of 300 parks and playgrounds throughout the city. Parks with trails, playgrounds, and athletic facilities can increase the amount of physical activity that people participate in. A recent study found that 81 percent of Hispanic neighborhoods lacked recreational facilities. Through the Chicago Plays initiative, Mayor Emanuel hopes to provide at least one park within a 10-minute walking distance of every Chicagoan. Chicago Plays is a five year playground renovation project that aims to improve the quality of 300 parks and playgrounds throughout Chicago. According to a press release from the office of the mayor, Mayor Emanuel hopes to complete the first upgrades to 50 playgrounds by November ...
