November 7, 2009

Overview

Introduce Leading Partners

About Safe and Walkable Hillside

What makes a neighborhood safe and “walkable?”

Problems

Solutions

How to go about making changes to your neighborhood

Fit City Duluth

Fit City Duluth is a public/private community initiative designed to change the social culture and physical environment of Duluth to encourage active, healthy lifestyles.

SHIP(Statewide Health Improvement Program)

Goal:Implement policies and practices that create active communities by increasing opportunities for non-motorized transportation (walking and biking) and access to community recreation facilities.

SHIP Active Community Coordinator Jim Skoog, Saint Louis County Department of Public Health & Human Services

Focus on Active Communities is 1 of SHIP’s 6 initiatives to improve health

• Homebuyer Education & Counseling

• Low Interest Home Rehab Loans

• Energy Efficiency Audits & Loans

• Community Organizing

• Crime Prevention

NHS Duluth(Neighborhood Housing Services of Duluth)

Safe and Walkable Hillside

Goal:

To improve the walkability and bikability of both Central Hillside and East Hillside

• Creating connections to destinations

• Focus especially on children and the elderly

In St. Louis County, Minnesota…

• 19.6% of the population is younger than 18

• 15.7% of the population is 65 or older

This represents over one-third of our county’s residents!

Also…

17.0% of the population in St. Louis County (older than 5 years) has a disability

08 / 80 Rule

SOURCE:

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27/27137.html

8

80

Bridgeport Way, Tacoma, WashingtonBEFORE

ExamplesExamplesBefore and AfterBefore and After

Bridgeport Way, Tacoma, WashingtonAFTER

ExamplesExamplesBefore and AfterBefore and After

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

SHOPPING CENTERS

HOMESIMPERMEABL

E BORDER

Wider is not always Better

“Every freeway is a political statement.”- Lewis Mumford

But wait a minute…

We’re not here to talk about freeways

We’re here to talk about…

S A F E T Y !

“Over the last 80 years we have been making cities much more for cars’ mobility than for children’s happiness.”

Enrique Penalosa, former Mayor, Bogota, CO

A pedestrian hit at 40 mph has an 85% chance of being killed.At 30 mph the likelihood of death is 45%

At 20 mph the fatality rate is only 5%

(FHWA, Pedestrian Facilities Users Guide, 2002)

Preparation

The Active Living 5 Ps Approach

Physical Projects

Policy Change

Programs

Promotion

?

PhysicalActivity

Chronicdisease

Congestion,pollution

Localeconomies

Safe streets

Livablecommunities

Here’s our opportunity…

What makes a Safe and Walkable neighborhood?

Places to Gather

We are working towards this in Duluth…

A new look at the school bus

Some communities have adopted a Walking or Biking School Bus to keep children active in a safe environment.

What does it take to be a walkable community?

Need to address the needs of our specific community with the five Ps:

• Preparing• Programming• Promotion• Policy• Physical Projects

Let’s Go For A Walk!