Lompoc Community Assessments “What We Learned”
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Lompoc Community Assessments “What We Learned” Presented by Judy Taggart MS, CHES March 25, 2010
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Lompoc Community Assessments “What We Learned”. Presented by Judy Taggart MS, CHES March 25, 2010. Healthy Lompoc Coalition. Background Originally formed as a Community Health Council in 2004 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Lompoc Community Assessments “What We Learned”
Lompoc Community Assessments
“What We Learned”
Presented by Judy Taggart MS, CHES
March 25, 2010
Healthy Lompoc Coalition
Background– Originally formed as a Community Health
Council in 2004
– Now a permanent community coalition
representing many sectors; focused on
improving the health of the community
Healthy Lompoc Coalition
Healthy Kids Project– Funded by California Endowment 2006-2009– Focused on addressing Childhood Obesity
Playable ParksWorksite WellnessSchool Wellness PolicySPARK Implementation in LUSDCommunity Outreach and Awareness
Healthy Lompoc Coalition
What we learned:
– Programs and projects aimed at improving
community health would be more successful if our
local policies supported them.
– Our physical environment and infrastructure must
be safe and user friendly. They must also support
healthy choices and promote active living.
Healthy Lompoc Coalition
To continue effectively:
– Follow the best practices of organizations such as
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and
California Endowment.
– We need local data to successfully implement
environmental and policy changes.
Healthy Lompoc Coalition
We realized that we need to assess our community
and decided to perform the following assessments:
– Walkability/Bikeability
– Safe Routes to Schools
– Community Food Access
– Green Space
– The Coalition received funding from California Endowment to
assist with these assessments
Walkability/Bikeability
Walkability and bikeability refer to how safe,
user friendly and accessible walking and
biking are in a neighborhood or a community.
Walkability
To walk or not walk – that is the question.
Assessing Walkability/Bikeability
We teamed up with consultants from California Walks and COAST.
Provided them with local data and put them in contact with City Engineer Craig Dierling.
Walkability
Members of the Healthy Lompoc Coalition on the September 24, 2009 Walkability Audit
Walkability - Findings
Incomplete sidewalks Missing curb ramps
Walkability - Findings
Cross Walks Signage
Bikeability
Can you get to where you need to go?
Bikeability - Findings
Lack of connectivity of bike lanes makes
traveling around town a challenge for
cyclists.– Parks
– Shopping
– Destinations North to South
Bikeability - Findings
Bike Lane – an example of a Class II
Bikeability - Findings
Bicyclist Behavior
Safe Routes to Schools
Safe Routes to Schools
Safe Routes to Schools refer to how safe and
accessible the school zones are for children
and parents who walk, ride or drive to school.
Assessing Safe Routes to Schools
We evaluated four schools
and the neighborhoods within
half a mile of the schools.
Safe Routes to Schools - Findings
City Engineering
Safe Routes to Schools - Findings
Pick Up/Drop Off Areas
Safe Routes to Schools - Findings
Speed Limits
Safe Routes to Schools - Findings
The Parent Impact
Community Food Assessment
Fresh is best – if you can find it.
Community Food Assessment
We chose to assess the availability of fresh
produce for Lompoc residents.
Our coalition members collected data from
22 food merchants in Lompoc:– Availability and variety offered
– Accept WIC and/or SNAP
– Location and store hours
Community Food Assessment
Community Food Assessment
Lompoc has a wide variety of merchants selling
fresh produce.
Fresh produce is located within half a mile of
most homes in Lompoc.
Low income neighborhoods are often closest to
these stores – within a quarter mile.
Some bad news…
Community Food Assessment
Fast Food is also located within half a mile of most homes in Lompoc.
Ocean Ave.
H S
treet
Community Food Assessment
We are not a food desert.
We need to promote the healthy food that we
have locally.
We need to educate our consumers about
making healthy choices.
Green Space
Good for you. Good for Lompoc.
Good for the Environment.
Green Space
Green Space
Green Space is considered areas within the city designated for outdoor enjoyment and recreation.
Parks, sports fields, walking trails, hiking areas and other outdoor recreation areas.
Gre
en S
pac
e
Green Space
City of Lompoc is 11 square miles with over 500 acres
of parks, recreation facilities and open space.
Lompoc is approximately 7% green space.
Accessible green space in Lompoc is closer to 5.7%
Green Space
A priority issue in Lompoc is
ACCESSIBILITY of green
space for pedestrians and
cyclists.
Moving Forward
Develop a strategic plan to
prioritize the environmental
and policy issues that we
plan to address.
Get Involved
We need ongoing input from community
members so we will develop working groups
for each of the areas assessed.
Working groups will establish, prioritize and
make recommendations for the strategic plan
that will improve the physical environment
and create healthy policies.
Thank you.
