Morrisville Active Kids Strategic Plan
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Morrisville, North Carolina Active Kids Strategic Plan
Adopted April 25, 2017
Active Kids Strategic Plan
Table of Contents Section 1. Introduction & Purpose ........................................................................ 1 Section 2. Public Input & Outreach ....................................................................... 3 Section 3. Background Information & Data ........................................................... 7 Section 4. Strengths, Opportunities, & Challenges ................................................ 9 Section 5. Action Steps for Implementation.......................................................... 11 Appendix.............................................................................................................. 23 Page
This plan made possible through a grant from:
Project Consultants
Michelle Eichinger, MS, MPA Cumming, Georgia meichinger@live.com
Don Kostelec, AICP Asheville, North Carolina don@kostelecplanning.com
Active Kids Strategic Plan
Section 1. Introduction & Purpose The Town of Morrisville, like many communities in the Triangle and elsewhere in North Carolina’s rapidly growing metropolitan areas, has opportunities to improve the health of its youth population. There is growing public demand for greenways and parks, as well as various creative programs aimed at engaging youth, connecting them with nature, and providing initiatives to counterbalance increased screen time and an increasingly overweight population. Morrisville has a solid track record of planning for parks and recreation as well as active transportation facilities. As the community has grown, so has its capacity to meet the demands of its population. The Town pursued a Wake County Healthy Communities grant through the John Rex Foundation to conduct this Active Kids Strategic Plan. In the grant application, the Town referenced its “continuing investments in pedestrian, bicycle, and park infrastructure [that] provide the Town of Morrisville with a great opportunity to support more active lifestyles for children in the community.” Morrisville sought to confirm this direction and prioritize opportunities for action. The Action Steps for Implementation, identified in Section 5 of this document, represent those initiatives identified through a process of discovery and engagement with stakeholders that occurred throughout the summer and fall of 2016. Research shows that an active and engaged youth population not only leads to healthier children, but also healthier families and adults. The graph below is from Youth Thrive’s Wake County Y outh Well-Being Profile (2015) and indicates that student levels of physical activity decline sharply from 6th grade through high school. It shows that physical activity rates among students drops dramatically as they transition from elementary school students to middle and high school
“After 20 minutes of physical activity students tested better in reading, spelling & math and were more likely to read above their grade level.”
- Active Living Research
What We Know: % of school age youth who do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines
Surveys from Wake County Public Schools attempt to understand how much physical activity students get on a weekly basis. The chart above shows the percent of students, by grade, who have less than 60 minutes per day of physical activity for fewer than 5 days a week. What is happening in Wake County is similar to other areas of the United States: Physical activity rates fall dramatically as youth approach high school age. This is due to reduction in time spent in school on physical activity as well as decreases in participation in organized sports. We heard from Morrisville youth that the availability of recreational programs for middle school and high school age students was a major concern, as oftentimes the only organized sports are available are school teams.
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students. In a span of only five years from 6th grade to 11th grade, the percentage of youth not getting the recommended time for physical activity per week nearly doubles. When a focus group of middle school students attending Morrisville’s Camp Cedar Fork in July 2016 were asked about their opportunities for activity, they gave some clear indicators as to why this dramatic drop-off occurs. They cited: Fewer programs and organized sports teams as children age out of elementary school; A lack of facilities within parks and along greenways that are conducive to more physical activity by middle and high school age children; and Concern about opportunities for females, such as organized sports leagues, when they age out of programs geared towards elementary school age children. What we didn’t hear about were concerns over healthcare or other medical services. Yet adults tend to fixate on access to care as part of our state and national conversation about health. The graphic at right illustrates the imbalance we have as a nation in investing in health-related initiatives. While much of our expenditures go to medical services, those services are not the main driver of what makes us healthy. Healthy behaviors and a healthy environment account for 70% of the influence. These can be addressed through a strengthening of support for implementing projects to promote more active lifestyles for children in Morrisville.
What We Know: Healthy Expenditures
Source: Lots to Lose: How America’s Health and Obe- sity Crisis Threatens our Economic Future (2012) Linking health-related investment to recreation, walkability, and bicycling helps communities correct the imbalance in what we spend on being healthy versus what makes us healthy.
With a growing population and an increase in development, Morrisville residents are faced with increased traffic, crowded drop-off zones at schools, and a need for increased physical activity. However, existing infrastructure investments present an unrealized opportunity for residents to further utilize the existing pedestrian, bicycle, and park infrastructure while continuing to make necessary improvements so that more residents are able to enjoy expanded transportation choices and recreational options. As these networks become more developed, the Town needs community support and expert guidance for how to increase accessibility and use of this infrastructure. The final policy directions outlined in this Active Kids Strategic Plan focus on coordinating with the upcoming Comprehensive Transportation Plan update and Parks and Recreation Master Plan update, as well as other decisions related to plans, programs, and policies for the next one to five years that: Identify and engage new and existing partners; Inform investment decisions in parks and recreation facilities; and Influence the design of transportation facilities led by the Town or North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) so that they safely accommodate the area’s youth population.
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Section 2. Public Input & Outreach The public input components of the Active Kids Strategic Plan consisted of an online survey that ran through the summer of 2016, two nighttime workshop sessions, various town events, a focus group at a Morrisville apartment complex, activities with camp kids, and a stakeholder workshop. In all, approximately 300 participants provided input to the plan, primarily through the online survey (132 responses). Key results of these input sessions are summarized in this section. Survey The online survey yielded great responses to a variety of questions on physical activity. The questions were modeled after questions used commonly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health organizations to measure influences on physical activity. The graphic below provides a summary of some of the key outputs from the survey related to screen time, physical activity, walking and bicycling to school, and accessibility of recreational opportunities via active modes of transportation.
Survey Results: Key Results from the online survey
Screen Time: On an average school day, how much non-school time does your child spend in front of a screen?
4.5%
OF CHILDREN WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL
SAID SCHOOL WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO WALK OR BIKE
Physical Activity: In the past 7 days, how many days was your child active for more than 60 minutes per day
SAID THEY COULD WALK, JOG OR RIDE A BIKE TO RECREATION SITES
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Other key themes that emerged from the survey included:
One Word… that describes your VISION for active youth in the future. The words people associated with their vision for active kids in Morrisville were oriented toward social activity, family bonding, being outdoors, and finding opportunities for learning. Workshops Two public workshops were conducted—one in July and one in September—to engage participants in a variety of exercises to gather thoughts on how to improve physical activity for youth in Morrisville. The Town also sought input at the following town events: 2016 Spring Fest, 2016 Fire Department Bike Safety Rodeo, and 2016 National Night Out. Participants were asked to move from station to station to answer questions about their vision for more active youth and the challenges that youth face. The illustration below shows the words they used to describe their vision. The larger the word, the more frequently it Many residents said they see people walking or recreating in their neighborhood; Several said that while speed limits on their streets were low, there was a perceived problem with speeding; 50% were willing to travel via an active mode to a destination within 1/2- mile of their home; 86% said they always or oftentimes felt safe using the existing walking paths and trails in Morrisville; and Many said in individual comments that concerns about traffic, speeding and facilities along major roads prevented them from walking or bicycling more with their children. A set of survey questions is included in the Appendix.
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occurred in their responses. Aside from active kids, themes such as fun, outdoors, and social engagement were common responses. Also telling was how many responses transcended the realm of physical activity, which reflects what researchers have found: physical activity is one dimension of health that yields positive impacts in other realms of health. Social health, emotional health, environmental health, and spiritual health are all impacted by physical activity. The influences that challenge Morrisville youth in terms of physical activity were also a component of the workshops. When asked to identify one word that describes those challenges; the top response was weather. This indicates that increased opportunities for indoor recreation during hot, humid summer months may be beneficial to increased rates of physical activity. When combined with winter weather limitations, the impacts of weather on outdoor activity could span at least five months of the year. Other challenges cited were the increased influence of online technologies and the internet, as well as lack of money and time available to recreate. A lack of sidewalks was also cited in many responses. Even though distance to schools arose as a key topic in the online survey, it was not cited in the one word responses. The sidewalks response may be related to issues related to distance.
One Word… that describes the CHALLENGES facing Morrisville youth today
Weather was cited as the primary concern among those who identified challenges for kids being more active in Morrisville. While we cannot control the weather, the community can offer more programs and facilities that allow for indoor activity during hot, humid summer months and cold spells in winter.
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Facilities and Programs The topics of facilities and programs were key focal points of both the public workshops as well as the set of focus groups conducted the same day as the July workshop. Youth attending Camp Cedar Fork were convened and asked about their wants and desires for Morrisville. Young children ages five and six were asked to color their favorite outdoor activity. They ranged from trips to the beach to playground activity to riding their bikes and walking in their neighborhoods. Children ages eight to 10 were also gathered to discuss their preferences. While the rage over the PokemonGO app dominated the conversation, the group also expressed a desire to play outside more with their friends. They also like the idea of having a bike park. Middle school age children were the most insightful and expressed concerns over loss of forest land due to development, a need for more interaction with nature, and a lack of facilities and programs tailored to their age group. Participants at the public workshops were asked to pick their top five choices from the types of facilities identified on a poster (shown in the image below). These votes indicated a desire for more protected spaces to bike and innovative activities in parks, such as healthy food, workout stations, and a bicycle pump rack.
Sample drawings from kids attending Camp Cedar Fork in July 2016 asked to draw a place where they like to play.
Investment Priorities: Preferred investments to support active living in Morrisville
VOTES
VOTES
VOTES
VOTES
VOTES
What it means: Places that provide increased opportunities for safe and healthy activities were desired most. Getting people to places via protected facilities so they can eat healthy and workout seems most desirable.
VOTES
VOTES
VOTES
VOTES
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Section 3. Background Information & Data There are several great data and information sources available for Wake County that point to a variety of conditions, factors, and influences on the health of youth and the overall population. A challenge remains in compiling health-specific data at the town or Census Tract level as countywide surveys and datasets have yet to be broken down into more specific geographies. Despite the lack of Morrisville-specific data, Wake County-specific information is available through Youth Thrive, an organization that describes itself as “a community- based collaborative comprised of individuals and organizations working to create
positive change for Wake County youth.” In 2015 they produced the Wake County Youth Well-Being Profile as “a series of snapshots of conditions, compiled to help leaders complete the big picture of how the county’s children and youth are doing along their journeys to adulthood.” The data profiled at right are some key findings of the profile report as they relate to physical activity among Wake County youth. More specific findings of the Wake County Youth Well-Being Profile include: Issues related to healthy weight are of concern in Wake County. Childhood obesity often leads to the same condition in adulthood. Thirty-seven percent of children and youth in Wake County are considered overweight or obese. More than one-third of middle school students reported that they had not seen a doctor or nurse for a check-up during the past year. A doctor and/ or nurse can discuss with parents and caretakers the wellness and lifestyle habits that might harm the child’s health or contribute to health risks. Female students report higher instances of feeling sad or hopeless than male students. Over one- fourth (29%) of high school students surveyed report feelings of sadness or hopelessness that interfered with usual activities within the past year, with over one-third of female students (37%) reporting these feelings. These are some of the salient findings that relate to the Morrisville Active Kids Strategic Plan. Additionally, the profile addresses the topic of traffic safety and risks while in an automobile, noting that 38 children were killed in traffic crashes in Wake County in 2013. In that same year 78 youth were the victims in pedestrian crashes in Wake County, including three fatalities. According to NCDOT data, there were 32 youth involved in bicycling-related crashes. Building safer networks for walking and bicycling greatly benefits safety for children and provides them with greater
37%
29%
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Active Kids Strategic Plan
opportunity to travel by active modes. From 1997 through 2014, there were 31 total bicyclist crashes in Morrisville including three youth crash victims. Of the 27 pedestrian crashes in that same timeframe there were nine youth victims, including one fatality. Five of the pedestrian youth crashes occurred on local, residential streets; two occurred in public vehicular areas such as parking lots; and one occurred on a state thoroughfare. The information to the right includes some common characteristics of youth as it relates to walking and bicycling. Youth (age 19 and younger) comprise 28% of Morrisville’s population and make up a large percentage of the area’s residents who are not able to drive. While we focus on educating youth on how to cross streets and ride safely on their bicycles, there are still several cognitive factors among youth that make them more susceptible to being the victim of a crash. This is why the design of streets—as touted through the emerging Vision Zero campaign in North Carolina to eliminate highway deaths—is paramount to creating safer streets. Vision Zero concepts are based on designing streets to make up for the mistakes of road users, most notably the youth, seniors, and disabled who have mobility limitations while walking or bicycling. Morrisville should be diligent in the design of its streets and in its discussion with NCDOT to ensure Vision Zero design concepts are deployed when roads are built or widened and when greenways cross area streets.
What we know about children who walk and bike: Young Children Like to copy the behavior of adults and older children. Walk slower than average adult. Think close calls are fun. They are short and hard to see by motorists. Have limited peripheral vision. Want to run and desire to limit crossing times.
Pre-Teens
Want to explore the freedom parents give them.
Are willing to take chances.
Walk and bicycle at more difficult times (higher exposure).
Walk across more risky roads.
Teenagers
Want to think big and act big. Think bicycling is cool. Act fiercely independent.
Can chaperone younger siblings when walking and bicycling.
Source: NCHRP Report 562: Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings
What We Know: Morrisville’s Youth Population
The population pyramid for Morrisville indicates that 28.1% of the town’s population is under age 19. This is similar to Wake County’s ratio of 28.9% of residents being under the age of 19. Based on these similar proportions, it is relatively safe to assume that the concerns for the youth population in Morrisville are similar to other parts of the County. 28%
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Section 4. Strengths, Opportunities & Challenges From the workshops and public outreach, the following set of strengths, challenges, and opportunities were identified for Morrisville to help promote more active lifestyles for its youth population. Strengths There is lot of energy and ongoing investment in Morrisville to create a more cohesive and active community, not just for youth. The proximity to the Research Triangle Park, positive connotations about the quality of life in and around Morrisville, and continued investments in parks and greenways create a stable base of strengths to build upon. Other major influences include: Demand for healthy kids: Embar king on an Active Kids Str ategic Plan is an indicator of Morrisville’s commitment to a healthier future. It is a bold step to focus solely on physical activity for kids and orient future efforts toward this end. A healthy base of youth also creates a healthier overall population, as youth can influence their parents, and a community that serves lifelong needs allows people to grow up and grow old in the same place. Growing population in a growing region and strong economy: The US Census estimates that Morrisville grew by 28% from 2010 to 2015. The strong economy, locally and regionally, creates a stable and diverse tax base for Morrisville. This should continue to bolster the Town’s finances for continued investment in projects and programs that promote physical activity for youth and others. Track record of focused investment by the Town: Looking ar ound Morrisville it is evident that a priority investment strategy includes new parks, greenways, and community spaces. The idea of creating a new Town Center, as well as a nearby planned Morrisville history walking trail and proposed Healthy Food Hub are also indicators of strong values by community leaders and elected officials. Incorporating design features and programs that involve youth will improve these investments. Challenges The challenges facing the youth population in Morrisville are a combination of conflicts related to growth and investment, as well as decisions about school siting and transportation that may not rest solely with the Town of Morrisville’s decision makers. Finding focus between competing interests, especially adults and older populations: The middle schooler s interviewed for this plan expressed concern over what they view as a lack of investment in programs and facilities for their age group. There was a sense that investment priorities were focused on young children and adults. Morrisville can engage this age group in future parks, programs, and greenway design efforts to identify and accommodate their needs. Lack of a middle school or high school in Town limits: The lack of these schools within town limits creates barriers to social and physical
Morrisville’s track record for new investments in parks and greenways is a strength that should continue to promote physical activity. Identifying investments and programs for middle and high school age kids was identified as a need among focus group participants.
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activity among students. They expressed concerns over not being able to interact with their friends from school as frequently because they were less likely to be from Morrisville. Working with the school system to identify how and where future schools can be located should be a top priority. Preserving natural areas for enjoyment by youth and others: As Morrisville has grown, the areas where forest or other natural features are present has been diminished as subdivisions have been cultivated in their place. Finding places to preserve the natural environment and enhancing it within or adjacent to parks and greenways were a priority for youth. Overcoming barriers created by auto-oriented roadways: Most of the roads and streets within Morrisville were built for the mobility and safety of the automobile operator rather than striking a balance to optimize mobility and safety for people who walk and bike. Recognizing that commute-based trips on foot or by bike may always be limited, Morrisville should evaluate the potential for increased utilitarian and recreational trips to destinations within walking and bicycling distance of residential areas. Opportunities The strengths and challenges within Morrisville create opportunities for broadening the scope of projects and building partnerships to support more active youth. The robust growth in the area combined with a stable financial base for the community allow for greater investment in safe transportation systems and recreational programs. Willingness to focus on healthy initiatives: Sever al or ganizations in the area are involved in emphasizing healthy living, especially Youth Thrive and Advocates for Health in Action. The bold step by Morrisville to seek funding for this plan indicates that it is a priority for the Town. Health should be a major driving factor in any future land use, transportation, and economic development plans. Youth should be engaged heavily in these efforts. Coordination among town officials and other regional organizations: The involvement of Youth Thr ive, CAMPO’s Safe Routes to School efforts, and the Active Routes to School program should be viewed as partnerships for the Town to pursue the Action Steps identified in this plan. Adjunct uses along greenways and trails : The Town should look beyond the presence and placement of greenways to identify adjunct uses along them, such as natural areas, pump tracks, mountain bike trails, playgrounds, and social gathering spaces so they become a destination in addition to being a recreation and transportation facility.
A bike lane along a street may not be the best facility to promote bicycling among youth. By reconfiguring streets to in- clude sidepaths or separated cycle tracks that connect to greenways, the Town can build a safer network for youth as well as others.
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Section 5. Action Steps for Implementation Completion of the Morrisville Active Kids Strategic Plan is only one in a series of steps to fully realize a more active community for youth as well as other residents. Action items will be considered as opportunities arise. The steps taken thus far to organize the plan with a vision to incorporate its findings into future planning efforts have set the community in the right direction. Now comes the hard part—defining needs, changing policies, and mobilizing the citizens and businesses around a unified vision for more active youth in Morrisville. This section identifies 11 Action Steps for Implementation that should be undertaken by the Town of Morrisville, the community at large, and its many partners over the next one to five years. To identify partnership roles and responsibilities, the “Give-Gain Grid” below defines a few partners and their roles in implementing the plan. The basic premise of a partnership is realizing that true partnerships rely on a complex set of influences that each party involved both contributes to (“gives”) and receives benefits (“gains”) from that partnership. The importance of the Grid is understanding what each stakeholder can do to support Morrisville, recognizing that some gives and gains are direct (e.g. funding), while some relate to more passive (e.g. letter of support). The Town may use this grid as guidance on how to seek support from a variety of stakeholders.
Give-Gain Grid
Town of Morrisville
NCDOT & CAMPO
Residents & Businesses
Non-Profits
Leadership and support Funding pursuits for
Accommodate multi- modal improvements that prioritize safety for youth Partnership in plan- ning and funding Prioritize funding of projects based on safety for youth Transportation options for Morris- ville residents Safer roads Accomplish Vision Zero & Complete Streets goal Positive PR Greater job creation for the area Improved partnership opportunities
Take pride in facili- ties, such as parks, sidewalks and green- ways Be committed to a healthy Morrisville Become involved and volunteer time Support funding for projects and pro- grams Stay involved Quality of life Access to new busi- nesses and services Safer community Healthier, happier kids Ability to live and grow old in Morris- ville
Leadership and endorsement Funding; assist in grant pursuits Engage Morrisville youth Collect Morrisville- specific data Support multi-modal options pursued by the Town, NCDOT and others Achievement of mis- sion Positive PR More engaged community New partners and supporters Healthier community
projects, program and policy invest- ments
Incorporate recom- mendations into fu- ture plans Work with NCDOT, CAMPO and public agencies to ensure incorporation of plan into projects Healthier youth Better quality of life Stable tax base More walking and bicycling Happy residents Lifelong community attributes
Give
Gain
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Capacity & Funding
Strategy: Examine and build community and organizational capacity to leverage resources and programs
There is a community-wide interest to address and enhance opportunities for youth to be more physically active in Morrisville. Supporting these efforts requires capacity to successfully address these efforts within the Town of Morrisville.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 2
Task 1
Assess needs and current capacity influencing funding and staff resources addressing physical activity among youth in Morrisville. In order to execute a plan of action, the various partners will need to assess the current capacity and any needs to improve capacity. This may include examining funding support and funding strategies, identifying opportunities for leveraging existing resources, reviewing staff support to develop, implement, and monitor efforts.
Develop a network of partners whose mission is to promote and support active kids in Morrisville in a coordinated and strategic way. The Town can bring together partners to address a common issue and develop strategies to address the issue. This strategic plan will provide the network with the framework of strategies to promote and support active kids in Morrisville.
Resources Healthy People 2020: National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity http://www.ncppa.org/resources-reports
Potential Partners: Wake County Public Schools YMCA of Research Triangle Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department Planning Department Police Department Eat Smart, Move More Wake County Health Department Evaluation Measures: Identify network partners Number of events or programs carried out in collaboration with partners Evaluation/Monitoring procedure
We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children Activity and Nutrition) http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/community/index.htm
Eat Smart, Move More: Local Physical Activity and Nutrition Coalition Manual. http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/ ESMMCoalitions/Texts/070317_lpan_manual.pdf
Society of Public Health Education: Building Coalitions, http://www.sophe.org/cppw-tools.cfm
NACCHO: Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), http://archived.naccho.org/topics/infrastructure/mapp/ framework/
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Promotion & Education
Strategy: Create a communications/media brand or community campaign to support and promote active youth
A social marketing campaign or health promotion brand communicates a joint message of support across sectors from policy to programming. An effective brand allows for community partners to coordinate efforts toward a common vision and demonstrates collaborative support to potential funders, community members, and future partners.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 1
Task 3
Conduct focus groups of youth, parents, and community-based youth organizations to develop a message that supports and promote physical activity among youth. Focus groups will provide qualitative information to shape messages and a brand that best resonate to the target population. Work with communication professionals and/or Town communications staff to establish a message. The team will develop a program that meets the needs of the community and develop a plan to promote messages in conjunction with community efforts.
Incorporate message/brand in all activities supporting and promoting active youth in Morrisville. Using a brand unifies activities and demonstrates joint efforts toward a common message.
Task 2
Resources CDC’s Community Health Media Center, https://nccd.cdc.gov/chmc/Apps/overview.aspx
Potential Partners:
Wake County Public Schools Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department
Making Health Communications Programs Work, https://www.cancer.gov/publications/health-communication/pink-book.pdf
Planning Department
Wong, et al (2004). VERB TM : a social marketing campaign to increase physical activity among youth. Preventing Chronic Disease , 1(3). https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2004/jul/pdf/04_0043.pdf
Public Information Officer Community Relations Liaison YMCA of Research Triangle United Way of the Greater Triangle
Local media
Evaluation Measures: Message/brand market-tested and established
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Promotion & Education
Strategy: Incorporate youth into the design process and planning for new facilities and programs
Often youth-focused programming, planning and decision making do not account the input from youth who would ultimately benefit. Youth input factors current realities facing today’s youth, including attitudes, beliefs, challenges, and level of awareness.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 1
Task 3
Institute a model whereas youth input is factored in policy, planning, and design decisions. Work with the Morrisville Youth Leadership Council or other youth group to help develop this model.
Develop a preset list to continue conducting summer focus groups, like those engaged during this strategic plan at Camp Cedar Fork, to gather input on evolving youth preferences. If plans are underway, this forum is an easy way to implement Task 1.
Task 2
Utilize the Morrisville Youth Leadership Council or other youth group to serve as an ad hoc youth advisory council to focus on specific issues, given past challenges in supporting a full-scale advisory board. If there is interest to keep supporting it, then a regular youth advisory board may be formed. Any level of youth advisory board will ensure youth representation and input in decisions impacting youth.
Resources Generation On: Establishing a Youth Advisory Council, http://www.generationon.org/ files/resources/game_changers_yac_toolkit.pdf
Potential Partners:
Local public and private schools
Morrisville Town Council
Forum for Youth Investment: Building Effective Youth Councils, http://forumfyi.org/ files/Building%20Effective%20Youth%20Final.pdf
Planning Department
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department Public Information Officer
Examples City of Winston-Salem, NC http://www.cityofws.org/home-center/public-meetings/advisory-boards-and- commissions/youth-advisory-council-winston-salem City of Greenville, NC http://www.greenvillenc.gov/government/city-council/boards-and-commissions/youth- council
Morrisville Youth Leadership Council
Evaluation Measures: Youth council is established or youth are engaged regularly in planning processes using the Morrisville Youth Leadership Council.
City of Sugar Hill, GA https://cityofsugarhill.com/government/boards-commissions/youth-council-2/
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Facilities & Programming
Strategy: Develop recreation facilities and programs aimed at middle school and high school age youth
Currently facilities are geared toward children and adults. Middle school-aged youth age out of typical recreational and intramural programs and thus have limited opportunities. There is demand for facilities and recreational programming geared toward the interests of this age group.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 2
Task 1
Incorporate a section of age-specific parks and recreation needs, challenges, and/or plans into the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Park and recreation needs and challenges vary among age groups. However, age-specific needs have not fully been addressed. Dedicated age-specific needs in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan demonstrate their priority.
Conduct focus groups or surveys of youth of different age groups, including middle school and high school. Focus groups provide detailed qualitative information that will frame priorities and challenges related to facilities and programming.
Resources CDC Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Toolkit, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/toolkit/userguide_pa.pdf
Potential Partners: Local schools
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department Youth-based organizations
System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY), http://activelivingresearch.org/sites/default/files/SOPLAY_Protocols.pdf
Engaging Community in Increasing Park-Based Physical Activity: Implementation Guide,
YMCA
http://rtips.cancer.gov/rtips/viewProduct.do? viewMode=preview&productId=26322188
Evaluation Measures:
Incorporate age-specific considera- tions for recreation programming and facilities in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Dedicated programming for middle and high school-aged kids.
Kahn, E, (2002). The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity: a systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine , 22(4S), 73-107. https://www.thecommunityguide.org/sites/default/files/publications/pa-ajpm- evrev.pdf
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Facilities & Programming
Strategy: Promote shared use of facilities for use by the community for physical activity.
Schools often have a variety of recreational facilities including playgrounds, gymnasium, sports fields, courts, and tracks. The Town can develop partnerships in lieu of building duplicate facilities within the community. The shared use efforts at Cedar Fork Elementary School are a local example.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 1 Establish shared-use agreements with local schools and/or faith-based facilities.
Task 3
Consider school locations in future transportation, greenway, and land use planning to maximize connection to greenways, parks, neighborhoods and other facilities. In the site plan review of proposed school locations in Morrisville, work to optimize connectivity and shared-use opportunities.
Task 2
Develop youth-based recreational programming at school and faith-based facilities. By partnering with organizations delivering programs, shared- use agreements expand opportunities to provide programming in existing facilities without investing to duplicate facilities within the community. In addition, programing in facilities with shared-use agreements increase public participation in recreation programs.
Resource The North Carolina General Assembly passed NCGS § 115C-12(35) as an addition to the list of the powers and duties of the State Board of Education. It reads as follows: The State Board of Education shall encourage local boards of education to enter into agreements with local governments and other entities regarding the joint use of their facilities for physical activity. The agreements should delineate opportunities, guidelines, and the roles and responsibilities of the parties, including responsibilities for maintenance and liability.
Resources American Heart Association (2012). Shared Use Agreements: Sharing School Recrea- tional Facilities with the Community. Fact Sheet. https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ ucm_312809.pdf Eat Smart, Move More. Promoting Open Use of School Property in North Carolina. Toolkit. http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/SharedUsePoliciesAndAgreements/Texts/ Move_More- A_Toolkit_for_Promoting_Open_Use_of_School_Property_in_North_Carolina- Final.pdf Eat Smart, Move More. Congregation to Community: Shared Use by North Carolina Faith-based Communities. Toolkit. http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/SharedUseAgreementsAndAssesments/Texts/ Congregation-to-Community%20Shared%20Use%20by%20NC%20Faith-based% 20Organizations.pdf
Potential Partners:
Wake County Public Schools Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Board of Education
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department Wake County Health Department
Faith-based organizations
Evaluation Measures:
Signed shared-use agreements Increased utilization of school and other public use sites
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Facilities & Programming
Strategy: Promote adjunct uses aimed at increasing physical activity along trails beyond use of the trails and greenways.
While trails provide opportunities for walking/biking, amenities along the trail can increase and support usage and opportunities for physical activity. Amenities may include, but are not limited to, fitness stations, story walks, interpretive signage, and edible trails.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 1
Task 3
Conduct community interest assessment and feasibility study of potential amenities along Morrisville greenways and trails. Garnering community interest will help identify and prioritize amenities to place along greenways and trails. Secure partnerships and funding to support amenities. Once amenities are identified, stakeholders can take the lead to identifying potential partnerships to leverage resources to promote amenities and/or explore funding opportunities.
Promote amenities. The network and partners can leverage the message/brand and support partners to raise awareness and promote use of the amenities .
Task 2
Resources The StoryWalk Project: http://www.kellogghubbard.org/images/StoryWalk/ The_StoryWalk_March2015.pdf
Potential Partners:
Faith-based organizations
Local Schools
YMCA of Research Triangle United Way of Greater Triangle
Action for Health Kids: Walking Trails with Fitness Activities. Texas Department of Health: How to Build a Walking Trail file:///C:/Users/meichinger/Downloads/trail.pdf
Chamber of Commerce/Local Business Community
Eat Smart, Move More. How the County high school creates a fitness trail for their com- munity. http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/SuccessStories/SuccessStory.html? snipit=Archieve/2008-06-23F
Fitness Centers Public Library
Master Growers Association
Edible Trails Project. http://edibletrails.org/
Cooperative Extension
Conservation/environmental organizations
Edible Arbor Trail. http://www.missouricitytx.gov/index.aspx?NID=285
Evaluation Measures:
Featured amenities along trail networks and greenways
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Active Kids Strategic Plan
Active Transportation
Strategy: Establish and support Safe Routes to School programs and efforts including a Walking School Bus.
Walking is an affordable and convenient form of physical activity for all ages. Walking and/ or biking to school regularly provides students with the CDC recommended amount of un- structured physical activity. In addition, adults/caregivers also benefit with this regular physical activity when they walk with their children.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 1
Task 3
Identify potential school routes. Stakeholders and/or the Planning Department will need to identify safe walkable and bikeable routes that connect residential areas to schools.
Acquire supplies and materials and institute low- budget amenities for safe access (i.e. bollards, paint, signage, etc.). Often supplies and materials are needed to implement Safe Routes to School programs. Partnerships will need to explore funding opportunities to support any necessary supplies and materials.
Task 2
Task 4
Invite and train parent volunteers and coordinators. One key to success for a Safe Routes to School activities, especially the Walking School Bus, is the volunteer base to implement the program. Coordinators and parents will be needed to support efforts related to Safe Routes to School.
Promote and conduct Walk to School events. Walk to school or bike to school events increase awareness of this mode of transportation to school. They also bring schools and community together to support social cohesion.
Resources Step by Step: How to Start a Walking School Bus at Your School http://saferoutespartnership.org/resources/toolkit/step-step
Potential Partners:
Active Routes to School
CAMPO
National Center for Safe Routes to School http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
PTA
Wake County Public Schools
Safe Routes to School Guide. http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/walking_school_bus/
NCDOT
Planning Department Active Living Research
Police Department
Evaluation Measures:
Established Safe Routes to School program Established Walking School Bus program
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Active Kids Strategic Plan
Active Transportation
Strategy: Continue to fund and support active transportation infra- structure through safe and protected connectivity to destinations.
When there is safe walkable/bikeable connectivity to destinations, youth are more likely to use active modes of transportation. Residents who regularly walk/bike to places of interest, such as retail centers, schools, public use places (i.e. libraries and parks), etc. are more likely to meet the CDC recommendations for physical activity.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 1
Task 3
Integrate health benefits of walkability and bikeability in comprehensive plans. With a growing understanding on the health impact on planning, the comprehensive plans can integrate health language to demonstrate the impact planning has on health and recognize the need to factor health in planning and policy. Dedicate public funds to support active transportation infrastructure. Funds are needed to support walkable and bikeable infrastructure. These funds can be incorporated into the existing transportation and planning budgets. However, dedicating funds toward active transportation demonstrates its priority. Network members can explore funding strategies to support active transportation.
Propose policy to support health in planning and transportation decisions. A policy is a sustainable approach to ensure health is factored in future planning and transportation decisions. A policy may include a health impact assessment or a community assessment to prioritize projects and examine health impact. Engage NCDOT in the Vision Zero campaign and Complete Streets policy implementation. The cornerstone of Vision Zero’s goal of zero roadway deaths is design of streets that account for human mistakes. Streets should be designed so mistakes made by those who walk and bike are not deadly. This includes reduction in speed limit, street design that forces desired speed, and making safety more important than vehicular mobility.
Task 2
Task 4
Resources ChangelabSolutions. Guide to Building Healthy Streets. http://
Potential Partners: Planning Department NCDOT
www.changelabsolutions.org/sites/default/files/ Building_Healthy_Streets_FINAL_20160630.pdf
Wake County Health Department Wake County Public Schools
Eat Smart, Move More. North Carolina to Incorporating Health Considerations into Comprehensive Plans. http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/HealthConsiderations/ Texts/North_Carolina_Guide_to_Incorporating_Health_Considerations.pdf
Chamber of Commerce
Town Council
CAMPO
ChangeLab Solutions. Direction of Pedestrian Friendly Codes. http:// www.changelabsolutions.org/childhood-obesity/pedestrian-friendly-code
Active Routes to School Region 5
Police Department
Vision Zero Initiative, outlines the design-first approach by Sweden that drastically reduced roadway deaths http://www.visionzeroinitiative.com/
Evaluation Measures:
Policy adopted to support active transportation in all decisions Vision Zero pilot project implemented in Morrisville
North Carolina Vision Zero http://ncvisionzero.org/
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Active Kids Strategic Plan
Active Transportation
Strategy: Promote transit use among teenage youth by educating them on the local system and incentivizing use.
Teenagers explore opportunities for independence and public transit allows teenagers with no access to a vehicle to get to destinations. Individuals who regularly use public transit often meet the CDC recommended amount of physical activity.
Action Steps for Implementation
Task 1
Task 3
Assess the potential for transit use among teenagers as transit services are added in Morrisville. This task will provide a baseline in which to evaluate teenage usage following promotional and programmatic interventions.
Develop modules and conduct workshops on how to use transit (possible in-class modules from Wake County Public Schools). Youth are often not trained in using public transportation. Promotional campaigns may incorporate the ease and basics of using transit—purchasing transit cards, reading maps, know where to go, etc. Then encourage schools to use public transit to take field trips.
Task 4
Task 2
Evaluate teenager transit usage. As part of any program, evaluation will help determine effectiveness in process and outcomes.
Develop promotional messages and/or maps to support transit use among teenagers and young adults. Promotional messages can target teenagers in the community. Message development should involve teenager engagement. Transit maps factoring teenager use may include destinations teenagers frequent— shopping centers, restaurants, movie theater, etc.
Resources National Center for Transit Research. Teenage Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Transit Use. http://www.changelabsolutions.org/sites/default/files/ Building_Healthy_Streets_FINAL_20160630.pdf
Potential Partners:
Wake County Public Schools
GoCary NCDOT
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Transit Safety Program. https://www.metro.net/about/transit-safety/safety-interactive/
Chamber of Commerce
CAMPO
Cain, Alasdair, (2006). Teenage mobility in the United States: issues and opportunities for promoting public transit. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transporta- tion Research Board , 1971, pp 140-148
Planning Department
Evaluation Measures:
Promotional campaign for teenage transit use Number of students taught transit use curriculum Number of teenage transit users
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