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 ...
In 2010, a group of Latina immigrants living in Granada, a neighborhood of Phoenix, formed Vecinos Unidos Siempre (Neighbors United Forever)---in order to unite residents and bring about improvements to their neighborhood. As a result of forming this group and partnering with Maryvale on the Move (a Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities initiative) residents were able to bring about improvements to the only park in their neighborhood. More Information and Resources Neighbors United Forever for Change (Vecinos Unidos Siempre para el cambio) Phoenix, AZ At the end of 2011, the Phoenix city council released a $1.2 million bond to be used for improvements to Cielito Lindo Park--located in the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood of Granada. A steering committee comprised of local residents was ...
After years of working with city departments and groups around the community, organizers from Living Streets L.A. finally celebrated victory, with plans for four parklets across the city underway. The establishment of these parklets will serve as a pilot program for a city-wide plan to support parklets and complete streets throughout the city. Council members Jose Huizar and Jan Perry both supported the motion for the parklet pilot program in 2011. Still, the effort to bring parklets to LA started at the community level, when Living Streets L.A. and the Downtown Neighborhood Council encouraged Huizar's team to adopt a parklet program for downtown L.A. The first park to be opened was Highland Park Parklet, the second was the Spring Street Parklet, and the third will be at El ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro appointed the Mayor’s Fitness Council (MFC) in May 2010. The mission of the Mayor’s Fitness Council is to transform San Antonio into a healthier and more active community in which citizens, groups, and organizations achieve targeted health and fitness goals through initiatives in the following areas: media and promotions;
fitness;
nutrition;
healthy schools;
work-site wellness; and
policy. The MFC is also encouraging youth to be health ambassadors through the Mayor's Fitness Council Student Ambassador program. These outstanding kids are committed to bringing healthier lifestyles into their schools and communities. Watch the video to learn more about the Student Ambassador Program. To learn more about the Mayor's Fitness Council ...
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina has been mindful about supplying nutritious food to the hungry in the past, but the staff wanted to do more. Supplying healthy food can be tricky for a food bank, which relies on donations. Sometimes it does receive cash instead of food. When buying food, the food bank always chooses items that fall within the USDA’s nutritional guidelines. But what about when the food bank has to rely on someone else’s generosity? Saying no isn’t easy. But Second Harvest has taken a big step in the right direction by hiring a full-time nutritionist; they are the only food bank in the state that has one. She handles such tasks as reviewing purchase plans to make sure the food bank is buying the healthiest foods it can. She also teaches ...
