Partnerships in Creating Partnerships in Creating Active CommunitiesActive Communities

Public Health:Public Health: Karen Petersmarck Karen Petersmarck

Environmental Organization:Environmental Organization: Brian Fellows Brian Fellows

Rails to Trails:Rails to Trails: Nancy Krupiarz Nancy Krupiarz

Our Goals for You Today:Our Goals for You Today:

You will leave here withYou will leave here with– Ideas for “unlikely partners” to help you Ideas for “unlikely partners” to help you

create active communities.create active communities.– Understanding of “what’s in it for them.” Understanding of “what’s in it for them.”

– Knowledge of three entry points into Knowledge of three entry points into

“the establishment.”“the establishment.”

Public HealthPublic Health

MISSION:MDCH strives for a healthier Michigan. To that end, the department will: – Take steps to

prevent disease, promote wellness and improve quality of life.

Local Public HealthLocal Public Health

• Every county Every county belongs to a local belongs to a local health department. health department.

• Local public health Local public health has the same has the same mission.mission.

What’s In It For Us?What’s In It For Us?

• It’s our job to make It’s our job to make it easier for people it easier for people to be healthy!to be healthy!

• We are mandated We are mandated to work on “active to work on “active communities.” communities.”

• We didn’t learn We didn’t learn how to do it in how to do it in school!school!

Education is good, but it won’t get people moving if exercise is inconvenient or dangerous.

Increasing Physical Activity:Increasing Physical Activity:

Public Health: Public Health: Entry Point #1Entry Point #1

OBESITYOBESITY

OBESITYOBESITY How’s this related to urban planning ?

Sprawl Smart Growth VS.“Those living in sprawling counties were likely to walk less, weigh more, and have greater prevalence of hypertension than those living in compact communities”

-Reid Ewing et al. American Journal of Health Promotion

“There is a connection between the fact that the urban sprawl we live with daily makes no room for sidewalks or bike paths and the fact that we are an overweight, heart disease-ridden society”

-Richard Jackson, MD, MPH. Planning and Zoning News

OBESITYOBESITY Can Be Affected By Planning Decisions

ObesityPhysical Activity

Nutritious Diet

Utilitarian Activity

Recreation Activity

Access to Healthy

Food

OBESITYOBESITY

•Walking

•Biking

•Transit

Planning for Utilitarian Physical Activity

Create Transportation Choices

To encourage physical activity as part of daily routines, urban areas should be designed to allow for alternatives to automobile use.

OBESITYOBESITY Planning for Utilitarian Physical Activity

Walking•Sidewalks

•Crosswalks

•Bulb outs

Tools to make walking a safe and dignified transportation option

OBESITYOBESITY Planning for Utilitarian Physical Activity

Bicycling

•Designated bike lanes

•Commuter trails

•More bicycle parking

OBESITYOBESITY Planning for Utilitarian Physical Activity

TransitPublic transportation supplements active transportation because people need to walk to and from transit stops

• More comprehensive and reliable service

OBESITYOBESITY

•Parks

•Trails

•Greenways

•River access

East Riverfront Plan

Hart Plaza

Destinations & Linkages

Planning for Recreational Exercise

In order for active recreation to be enjoyable, people need safe places to run, walk, bike, play ball, etc and these places should be interconnected.

OBESITYOBESITY Planning for Recreational Exercise

55% trail users report increased activity levels resulting from the existence of a trail in their area

Even the previously inactive find trails attractive and use them

Trails

Obesity preventionObesity prevention

A “syn-solution”A “syn-solution”

Physical activity

Air pollution

Depression

And by the way…

Infrastructure costs Social capital

CO2 emission

s

How Can You Become an How Can You Become an Advisor for Obesity?Advisor for Obesity?

State Level: State Level: – Health Department: Health Department:

• Find obesity or physical activity.Find obesity or physical activity.• Help develop the State Plan. Help develop the State Plan. • Include in the State Plan programs you can Include in the State Plan programs you can

contribute.contribute.

– Dept. Education:Dept. Education:• Find Physical Education Find Physical Education • Safe routes to school Safe routes to school • Connecting trails to schoolsConnecting trails to schools• Bike safety programsBike safety programs

How Can You Become an How Can You Become an Advisor for Obesity?Advisor for Obesity?

Local LevelLocal Level– Local Health Department:Local Health Department:

• Find coalitions or advisory groups:Find coalitions or advisory groups:– Non-motorized transportationNon-motorized transportation– ““Healthy Washtenaw”Healthy Washtenaw”

• Help with assessmentsHelp with assessments

• Help create plansHelp create plans

– School District:School District:• Safe routes to schoolSafe routes to school

• Bike safetyBike safety

Public Health: Public Health: Entry Point #2Entry Point #2

INJURY CONTROLINJURY CONTROL

Dekalb Neighbor, July 4, 2001

How You Can Become an How You Can Become an Advisor for Injury PreventionAdvisor for Injury Prevention

1.1. Get data on biking Get data on biking and walking injuries and walking injuries and deaths in your and deaths in your state or area.state or area.

– Amazingly, this may Amazingly, this may be hard to find!be hard to find!

– Some states collect Some states collect this with surveillance this with surveillance of hospital emergency of hospital emergency departments. departments.

– Try National Center Try National Center for Walking and for Walking and BicyclingBicycling

How You Can Become an How You Can Become an Advisor for Injury PreventionAdvisor for Injury Prevention

2. Find the person in charge of injury 2. Find the person in charge of injury at the state health department.at the state health department.

3. Ask about existing programs for bike 3. Ask about existing programs for bike and ped injuries.and ped injuries.

4. Ask about a state plan for injury 4. Ask about a state plan for injury control.control.

5. Offer to help.5. Offer to help.

Public Health: Public Health: Entry Point #3Entry Point #3

HEALTHY HEALTHY AGINGAGING

““Senior-Friendly Senior-Friendly Communities”Communities”

• By 2030, 20% of us will be By 2030, 20% of us will be age 65+.age 65+.

• State governments are State governments are scaredscared about health care about health care costs.costs.

• Prevention is finally seen Prevention is finally seen as important.as important.

• Making it easy to be Making it easy to be physically active is critical.physically active is critical.

• You can help.You can help.• Senior volunteers can help Senior volunteers can help

you.you.

How You Can Become an How You Can Become an Advisor for “Healthier Advisor for “Healthier Aging”Aging” 1.1. Data: Data:

– Lack of physical activity Lack of physical activity – Disproportionate pedestrian Disproportionate pedestrian

deaths and injuries among deaths and injuries among elderlyelderly

2.2. Find the State Unit on Find the State Unit on Aging.Aging.

3.3. Ask about existing Ask about existing programs for physical programs for physical activity, injury prevention, activity, injury prevention, older drivers.older drivers.

4.4. Ask to see state plan.Ask to see state plan.5.5. See where you could fit.See where you could fit.

Public Health Entry PointsPublic Health Entry Points

Multiple State Multiple State PlansPlans– Cardiovascular DiseaseCardiovascular Disease– InjuriesInjuries– ObesityObesity– OsteoporosisOsteoporosis– Cancer preventionCancer prevention– ArthritisArthritis– DiabetesDiabetes– Physical ActivityPhysical Activity

Most decisions are made by those who…

show up!

Moving from “Outsider” to “Insider”

Tactics Review: • Identify their priorities

• Pursue win-win projects

• “Carry the water” for their project or priority

• Say “yes” to work groups

- Lucinda Means

League of Michigan Bicyclists

How A Non-Profit How A Non-Profit Organization Can Drive Organization Can Drive

Bike/Ped PolicyBike/Ped Policy(And Partnerships)(And Partnerships)

River Action, Inc.River Action, Inc.

Davenport, IowaDavenport, Iowa

An Introduction ToAn Introduction ToThe Quad CitiesThe Quad Cities• 180 miles due west of Chicago180 miles due west of Chicago

• 5-city area ~ 350,000 population5-city area ~ 350,000 population

• Iowa – Bettendorf, DavenportIowa – Bettendorf, Davenport

• Illinois – Rock Island, Moline, East Illinois – Rock Island, Moline, East MolineMoline

• Farm economy, former hub for Farm economy, former hub for agricultural equipment agricultural equipment manufacturemanufacture

• Illinois QCs – 60+ miles of Illinois QCs – 60+ miles of riverfront trailriverfront trail

• Iowa QCs – 7 miles of riverfront Iowa QCs – 7 miles of riverfront trail, additional 10 miles inlandtrail, additional 10 miles inland

• American Discovery TrailAmerican Discovery Trail

• Mississippi River TrailMississippi River Trail

• 2006 National Trails Symposium, 2006 National Trails Symposium, Davenport, IowaDavenport, Iowa Photo: Ken Larvenz

River Action - BackgroundRiver Action - Background

• Mission: To advocate for public Mission: To advocate for public access to - and the overall access to - and the overall health of - the Mississippi Riverhealth of - the Mississippi River

• Founded in 1983 as “Lights, Founded in 1983 as “Lights, River, Action” in order to raise River, Action” in order to raise approx. $300,000 for installing approx. $300,000 for installing lights on the Centennial Bridgelights on the Centennial Bridge

• Board of Directors – represents Board of Directors – represents many segments of society and many segments of society and political preference including political preference including medicine, education, business, medicine, education, business, industry, utilities, nursing, and industry, utilities, nursing, and retired individualsretired individuals

Photo: Brian Fellows

River Action’s Territory and River Action’s Territory and Working RelationshipsWorking Relationships

• Local governments in Local governments in 12 communities12 communities

• 2 states (IA, IL)2 states (IA, IL)

• 2 counties (Scott, 2 counties (Scott, Rock)Rock)

• 50 miles of shore50 miles of shore

Davenport, IADavenport, IA Moline, ILMoline, IL

Bettendorf, IABettendorf, IA Cordova, ILCordova, IL

Buffalo, IABuffalo, IA Hampton, ILHampton, IL

East Moline, ILEast Moline, IL

Princeton, IAPrinceton, IA Rapids City, ILRapids City, IL

LeClaire, IALeClaire, IA Port Byron, ILPort Byron, IL

Rock Island, ILRock Island, IL

River Action – Focus AreasRiver Action – Focus Areas

- Stormwater runoff - Stormwater runoff reduction, native plants, reduction, native plants, thoughtful urban thoughtful urban riverfront development, riverfront development, design guidelinesdesign guidelines

- River conservation, - River conservation, environmental educationenvironmental education

- Riverfront development, - Riverfront development, public access, public access, walkability, multi-use walkability, multi-use trails, activities to draw trails, activities to draw people back to the riverpeople back to the river

Photo: Brian Fellows

River Action’s Bike/Ped River Action’s Bike/Ped ProjectsProjects

• Ride The River bike Ride The River bike rideride

• Public artPublic art

• Senior Golf Cart TourSenior Golf Cart Tour

• Walk To The RiverWalk To The River

• Mississippi River Mississippi River ConnectionsConnections Walking Walking GuideGuide

Drawing: The Lakota Group

River Action’s Bike/Ped River Action’s Bike/Ped ProjectsProjects

• 20th Street Overlook20th Street Overlook

• Great River Trail (IL)Great River Trail (IL)

• Mississippi River Trail Mississippi River Trail (IA)(IA)

• Channel Cat water taxiChannel Cat water taxi

• River Vision riverfront River Vision riverfront planning processplanning process

Photo: Brian Fellows

Volunteer NetworkVolunteer Network

- Interested citizensInterested citizens

- Neighborhood Neighborhood assocs.assocs.

- Civic groupsCivic groups

- RetireesRetirees

- Environmental orgsEnvironmental orgs

- CorporateCorporate

- School/PTAsSchool/PTAs

- ‘‘Boot camps’Boot camps’ Photo: Brian Fellows

Local Government’s (MPO) Local Government’s (MPO) RoleRole

• Coordinate commun-Coordinate commun-ication between ication between membersmembers

• Nurture partnershipsNurture partnerships

• Grantwriting Grantwriting assistanceassistance

• Identify multijurisdic-Identify multijurisdic-tional opportunitiestional opportunities

Some Unlikely PartnershipsSome Unlikely Partnerships

• Nahant MarshNahant Marsh(farmers, landowners)(farmers, landowners)

• Pervious parking Pervious parking lotlot(Army Corps of Engineers)(Army Corps of Engineers)

• Sylvan IslandSylvan Island(Hispanic neighborhood (Hispanic neighborhood assoc.)assoc.)

• Lindsay ParkLindsay Park(Demolition contractor)(Demolition contractor)

Photo: Brian Fellows

Some Unlikely PartnershipsSome Unlikely Partnerships

• American American Discovery TrailDiscovery Trail(Army Corps, casino boats)(Army Corps, casino boats)

• Mississippi River Mississippi River Connections Connections Walking GuideWalking Guide(Trinity Regional Health (Trinity Regional Health System; McDonald’s System; McDonald’s restaurants – don’t say restaurants – don’t say “eeeuu!”)“eeeuu!”) Photo: Brian Fellows

Some Unlikely PartnershipsSome Unlikely Partnerships

• Arsenal Island Arsenal Island RiverWay artRiverWay art– Native Americans Native Americans

involved; Black involved; Black Hawk relative Hawk relative blessed the siteblessed the site

– Public involved in Public involved in site selection and site selection and artist designsartist designs

Photo: Brian Fellows

Some Unlikely PartnershipsSome Unlikely Partnerships

• Credit Island Credit Island RiverWay artRiverWay art– Goal: create new Goal: create new

nodenode– Former residentsFormer residents– Felled trees hauledFelled trees hauled– Chainsaw-sculptedChainsaw-sculpted– High school students High school students

taught pointillismtaught pointillism– Sondheim musical Sondheim musical

during dedicationduring dedication Photo: Brian Fellows

Keys To Success – The Four Keys To Success – The Four M’sM’sPhase 1: Building the foundationPhase 1: Building the foundation

• Manpower Manpower (partnerships)(partnerships)

• Money Money (cash AND in-kind)(cash AND in-kind)

• Municipalities Municipalities (buy-in)(buy-in)

• MediaMedia (exposure) (exposure)

Keys To Success – The Four I’sKeys To Success – The Four I’sPhase 2: Day-to-day operationsPhase 2: Day-to-day operations

• Inclusion Inclusion (public)(public)

• Involvement Involvement (partners)(partners)

• Ingenuity Ingenuity (synergy)(synergy)

• Immediacy Immediacy (deadlines)(deadlines)

River Action, Inc.

Unlikely Unlikely Partnerships in Partnerships in

Creating Creating Bikeable/Walkable Bikeable/Walkable

CommunitiesCommunities

PRO BIKE PRO WALK

September, 2004

Michigan Field Office

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)(RTC)• RTC is a national organization with 6 Field Offices RTC is a national organization with 6 Field Offices

(MI, CA, FL, PA, OH and New England(MI, CA, FL, PA, OH and New England

• Purpose: to enrich America's communities and Purpose: to enrich America's communities and countryside by creating a nationwide network of countryside by creating a nationwide network of public trails from former rail lines and connecting public trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors. corridors.

• 13,000 miles in US; Michigan: 213,000 miles in US; Michigan: 2ndnd in nation, 1,329 in nation, 1,329 milesmiles

• We provide technical assistance on trail building, We provide technical assistance on trail building, educate the public and promote trail building policy educate the public and promote trail building policy at all levels of governmentat all levels of government

TRAILSLand Use

TransportationHealth

Transportation Summit

Cool Cities Initiative

Safe Routes to School

MI Steps UpHealthy Communities Network

Michigan Cardiovascular Health Task Force MI Land Use

Leadership Council

Designing Healthy Livable Communities Conference

On the state level, trails have played a part in:

The Key is . . .The Key is . . .

• Show you deserve a place at the Table Show you deserve a place at the Table throughthrough

--relationship building--relationship building

--initiate action to help--initiate action to help

• Show upShow up and contribute (whether it’s and contribute (whether it’s directly related to your topic or not --directly related to your topic or not --general expertise and leadership is helpful general expertise and leadership is helpful too)too)

• Keep in contact and look for your entryKeep in contact and look for your entry

Partnership Building at the Local Partnership Building at the Local Level:Level:

Build a Green Infrastructure VisionBuild a Green Infrastructure Vision

• Historic Preservation Historic Preservation GroupsGroups

• Watershed CouncilsWatershed Councils

• Economic Economic DevelopmentDevelopment

• DevelopersDevelopers

• Land ConservanciesLand Conservancies

• Agriculture Agriculture CommunityCommunity

• Academic communityAcademic community

• General PublicGeneral Public

• Political LeadersPolitical Leaders

• Community PlannersCommunity Planners

• Transportation PlannersTransportation Planners

• Tourism OfficialsTourism Officials

Non-Motorized Advocates can Build Relationships with:

Green InfrastructureGreen Infrastructure is an interconnected green space network is an interconnected green space network that provides the ecological framework for that provides the ecological framework for environmental, social and economic environmental, social and economic sustainabilitysustainability

Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure Planning Planning Involves:Involves:• Identifying the Identifying the

StakeholdersStakeholders• Creating a Forum for Creating a Forum for

LeadershipLeadership• Seek Public Review & Seek Public Review &

CommentComment• Gather InformationGather Information• Establish a vision and Establish a vision and

a missiona mission

Meridian Township Greenspace Meridian Township Greenspace PlanPlan

• Land preservation millage Land preservation millage of 2001of 2001

• Dilemma – which parcels Dilemma – which parcels to purchase and/or where to purchase and/or where to focus development?to focus development?

• Pathway millage since Pathway millage since 1994 - widened sidewalks 1994 - widened sidewalks w/ many unsafe w/ many unsafe intersections. Few on-intersections. Few on-road connectionsroad connections

• Greenspace plan provided Greenspace plan provided a consolidated vision of a consolidated vision of how to accomplish both how to accomplish both objectivesobjectives..

32 square miles

40,000 people

How it was done (in brief)How it was done (in brief)

INDIVIDUAL MAPS

PUBLICINPUT

WHAT TO PRESERVE

& WHY

BIKING & WALKING

LINKS

ANALYSISECOLOGICALVALUABLE

AREAS

IMPORTANT LINKS & HUBS

ACROSS DEVELOPABLE

LAND

How it was done (in brief)How it was done (in brief)

GISLAYERED

MAPS

MOREPUBLICINPUT

DENSITY EXERCISE

LINKAGEEXERCISE

MAPPED ECOLOGICALVALUABLE

AREAS

IMPORTANT LINKS & HUBS

ACROSS DEVELOPABLE

LAND

ResultResultGreenspace map and implementation Greenspace map and implementation

planplanA Map and Inventory A Map and Inventory

of:of:

• Priority conservation Priority conservation corridorscorridors

• Scenic road corridorsScenic road corridors

• Parks & open spaceParks & open space

• Public & school Public & school propertyproperty

• Fragile LinksFragile Links

• Restoration Restoration opportunitiesopportunities

• Foot TrailsFoot Trails

• Multi-use TrailsMulti-use Trails

• On-road FacilitiesOn-road Facilities

And And RecommendationsRecommendations

• New policies and New policies and ordinances to ordinances to implement the planimplement the plan

An example of Conservation Zoning

Saginaw Bay Greenways Saginaw Bay Greenways

• W.I.N. (Watershed W.I.N. (Watershed Initiative Network) Initiative Network) to improve water to improve water qualityquality

• Trails are a subsetTrails are a subset• Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure

planning:planning:----thorough thorough investigation of the investigation of the project areaproject area----public involvementpublic involvement

W.I.N. Greenways MissionW.I.N. Greenways Mission

““The Saginaw Bay Watershed will have The Saginaw Bay Watershed will have a Greenway Network that connects a Greenway Network that connects our communities to the area’s natural our communities to the area’s natural and cultural amenities for the and cultural amenities for the recreation, transportation, education, recreation, transportation, education, and health benefits of its citizens.”and health benefits of its citizens.”

For more info: For more info: www.saginawbaygreenways.orgwww.saginawbaygreenways.org

For more informationFor more information

• For Meridian Twp. Plan: For Meridian Twp. Plan:

The Greenways Collaborative, Inc.The Greenways Collaborative, Inc.

www.www.greenwaycollabgreenwaycollab.com.com

• Green Infrastructure planning in generalGreen Infrastructure planning in general

Conservation FundConservation Fund

1800 North Kent St.1800 North Kent St.

Arlington, VA 22209Arlington, VA 22209

http://www.greeninfrastructure.nethttp://www.greeninfrastructure.net

www.railtrails.org

www.trailsandgreenways.org