[Durham INC] Healthy Followup Materials

[Philip Azar]

Here’s an update and followup information from Marissa Mortiboy’s presentation to INC last month.  You may recall that a goodly chuck of the presentation was about physical activity in Durham and getting individuals and neighborhoods more involved in physical activities on a regular basis.  One of the key ways of doing this is through Healthy Miles.

Here is the Healthy Mile Trail video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdcLgYGpcpU
 
Here is more information about Durham physical activity - http://www.ahealthiernc.com/durhamcounty/
 
The process for mapping out a Healthy Mile Trail apparently is still in the draft phase. Below are key points if a neighborhood is interested in creating a Healthy Mile Trail in their neighborhood. The health department would work very closely with the neighborhood on the trails, especially related to gaining approval from the city and painting the routes. If neighborhoods have questions, they can contact Marissa with questions or ask her to make a community presentation.
 
1.       Organize a committee, with a minimum of six individuals, which may include area residents, organizations, businesses and neighborhood groups.  Designate a point person.  This committee will be responsible for the trail planning, construction and maintenance.
2.       Walk an existing Healthy Mile Trail.  The location of current trails can be found at www.healthydurham.org. There are currently trails that begin at Holton Career and Resource Center, Lincoln Community Health Center and McDougald Terrace.
3.       Walk and map potential routes.
4.       Informally share potential routes with people who live and work along or near the route. Ask for their input. Be open to changing the route.
5.       Draft a proposal, detailing the neighborhood’s plans for developing, maintaining, evaluating, and possibly programming, the trail. This proposal is for the use of the neighborhood – it does not need to be submitted to anyone.
6.       Share map(s) of one or two potential final routes (through listservs, newsletters, posting locally, PAC meetings, neighborhood association meetings, walking tours and going door to door). Gain neighborhood residents’ approval by majority vote at a publicized community meeting.   If there are questions or concerns from a majority of residents, consider another route.
7.       Work with the health department to send a map of the proposed route to City Traffic Engineer or designee (Phil Loziuk) and Public Works Department designee (Tasha Johnson) for approval. Depending on the streets in the route, State approval may be required.  If changes need to be made to the route, discuss options with committee and go back to the neighborhood for a final approval of changes.
8.       Inform each resident and/or business owner along the finalized Healthy Mile Trail route verbally or with a flyer.  If the resident or business owner is not present, leave a flyer with contact information and the proposed route (a map is best). On the flyer, request volunteers to assist in trail construction and maintenance.
9.       After route approval, identify four to six residents willing to help walk the trail and take notes of any issues. Send the feedback to Neighborhood Improvement Services who will make a request to the city. This process documents problems the City should address to make the route safe (e.g. uneven or unsafe sidewalks, loose wires, overhanging branches, etc.). 
10.    Set dates to clean the route and paint the route. Get the neighborhood excited about the route and get everyone involved in cleaning it up. Make sure all volunteers for both preparation and painting sign a liability waiver. (Paint, clean up materials and someone to advise on best strategies for painting are available through the health department.)
11.    Set a date for a neighborhood kickoff and walk. Celebrate all the work that went into creating the trail and officially open.
12.    Maintain the trail. Schedule regular cleanups and monitor whether repainting needs to occur annually.

Healthy Mile Trail Requirements
·         Be at least one mile loop
·         Have sidewalks the entire distance
·         Have streetlights
·         Have limited changes in elevation (to ensure it is accessible to the elderly, disabled and strollers)
·         Find a “home” organization or group that will commit to the trail construction and maintenance
 
 
 
MARISSA MORTIBOY, MPH  |  Partnership for a Healthy Durham Coordinator
 
                                                                               
 
                                               
 
 
Durham County Department of Public Health
Human Services Building – (3rd Floor) WS-43
414 East Main Street
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Office (919) 560-7833  |  Fax (919) 560-7373  |  Cell (919) 695-5541
mmortiboy at dconc.gov
www.healthydurham.org
 
 
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