Funded Projects   Access to Health Care   Physical Health   Social, Emotional and   Behavioral Health

Active Communities and Neighborhoods Contact: Cameron P. Graham, MPH Social Marketing Specialist Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch North Carolina Division of Public Health This grant program provided five, three-year $120,000 grants to support strategies to increase physical activity in a variety of locations in Wake County. The Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the N.C. Public Health Foundation evaluated applications for this program and will provide ongoing technical assistance and evaluation of funded projects. Grant recipients include the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Town of Cary, the Town of Holly Springs, Gethsemane Seventh Day Adventist Church and Triangle Transit Authority. Grant recipients include: Town of Holly Springs: This project is a joint effort of the Engineering Department and the Parks and Recreation Department of the Town of Holly Springs. In addition to the town departments, the project will benefit Wake County's Holly Springs Elementary School, with whom the Parks and Recreation department has a joint-use agreement for Jones Park. This project will provide 4524' of greenway, 1300' of sidewalk and three crosswalks, providing people-powered multi-use access for recreation in the heart of downtown. The connection of Jones Park, Holly Springs Elementary, Veteran's Park and linkage to existing sidewalks provides a contiguous 6 miles of sidewalk and greenway. A Walk to School program will support the increased "walkability" between the school, residential areas and town parks. Triangle Transit Authority: This project is a joint effort by the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA), Capital Area Metropolitan Area Planning Organization (CAMPO) and the City of Raleigh to develop and implement a plan to improve bike and pedestrian amenities at bus stops. These amenities will improve the physical environment and increase the activity levels and transit use of local citizens. A best practices guidance document for municipalities to address future community needs around transit stops will be created. Town of Cary: This project proposes to utilize Fred G. Bond Metro Park (Bond Park) for a sidewalk and greenway enhancement intervention. This intervention will result in the construction of walkways to better connect facilities to trails and greenways, installation of signage to ease navigation and implementation of walking programs. This funding will enable the construction of more than 845 feet of concrete sidewalks and asphalt trails and physical activity programs. This intervention will ensure Bond Park is a safe and convenient place for walking and physical activity. Programs will target the Hispanic population and signs will be in both Spanish and English. North Carolina Museum of Art: The North Carolina Museum of Art will commission site-specific art projects encouraging visitors of all ages and physical abilities to actively explore the Museum Park. The Center for Universal Design will focus on Park accessibility for all mobility levels, surveying trail usability and developing solutions for remediation. Gethsemane SDA Church: This project builds on existing neighborhood assets to increase physical activity. It consists of renovating a playground at Gethsemane Seventh Day Adventist Church and constructing a walking trail with physical activity messages to connect the playground and Southeast Raleigh community garden to the Sanderford Road Park and surrounding neighborhood. Overall Cost/Term: $600,000/May 2007-May 2010