Greenway/bike/ped plans

Omaha, NE

rosalie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:22:51 -0600

With more than 500,000 residents, Omaha easily claims the title of Nebraska’s largest city. During a growth spurt in the 1950s, its middle class left the older eastern end of the city for the developing suburbs to the west. A diverse, largely lower-income population filled the void. Today, this section of Omaha remains has a median household income that is about half that of households in the rest of the city and surrounding Douglas County.

New Orleans, LA

rosalie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:21:46 -0600

When Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury along the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Americans watched in horror as the levees protecting New Orleans gave way and devastating floodwaters rushed in. Hundreds of people died; entire neighborhoods were submerged. More than four years later, The Big Easy is still recovering—minus nearly 200,000 residents who evacuated and never returned.

Milledgeville, GA

rosalie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:15:39 -0600

From 1804 to 1868, Milledgeville proudly served as Georgia’s capital, and many remnants of that era, such as the Old Governor’s Mansion, can still be seen today. Far less grand, however, are some of the signs of modern times—a community divided by major state highways, rising unemployment and deteriorating neighborhoods.

Greenville, SC

rosalie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:58:20 -0600

As its name suggests, Greenville County offers a gentle, verdant landscape nestled near the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county boasts nearly 2,000 acres of parks, 10 community centers, sports leagues and an open-air farmers market. The YMCA of Greenville, Greenville Hospital System and Furman University run a comprehensive healthy living program aimed at preventing obesity. Yet more than 40 percent of children in the county are overweight or obese, with African-Americans and Latinos disproportionately affected.

DeSoto, Marshall and Tate Counties, MS

rosalie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:51:44 -0600

In the Delta of northwestern Mississippi, a river and its watershed unite three counties of divergent geography, population and economics.

DeSoto County has the most people (154,748); Marshall County the lowest per capita income ($14,028) and education level (40 percent of adults lack a high school diploma); and Tate County the highest rate of adult overweight and obesity (72.7 percent). DeSoto is a suburban county within range of Memphis, while Marshall and Tate are rural counties separated only by an interstate highway.

Somerville, MA

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:07:28 -0600

Somerville is a small but densely populated city immediately abutting Boston. It has both an urban and suburban feel: per-capita income below the state average and increasing numbers of families living in poverty, balanced by vibrant neighborhoods, well-maintained sidewalks and many parks and playgrounds.

King County/Seattle, WA

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:02:09 -0600

Seattle and the rest of King County are home to an increasing number of immigrants from a wide range of countries. This is especially true in the low-income neighborhoods at the center of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities project here.

Louisville, KY

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:51:33 -0600

Louisville/Jefferson County Metro is the largest city in Kentucky, a mix of urban, suburban and rural areas along the Ohio River. A recent groundswell of activity around childhood obesity prevention has primed Louisville for real change on the issue. Significant efforts already are under way to develop a network of walking trails and bike paths, support urban gardening and provide children with safe routes to school.

Columbia, MO

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:42:51 -0600

Columbia is a college town located in the center of Missouri, nearly equidistant between Kansas City to the west and St. Louis to the east. It is not a very heterogeneous community overall, but five neighborhoods have distinctly different demographics—much greater racial and ethnic diversity, higher rates of poverty and crime and more students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch in the public schools.

Central Valley, CA

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:26:49 -0600

The 240-mile long San Joaquin Valley is a major agricultural region encompassing eight counties (Kern, Kings, Tulare, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin) in central California. But the bounty of the land does not extend to the population; residents, many of them migrant workers, have among the lowest per capita income, highest rate of poverty and least educational attainment in the state. All are factors contributing to pronounced rates of overweight and obesity, particularly among youth.