Lompoc Community Assessments “What We Learned” Presented by Judy Taggart MS, CHES March 25, 2010

Healthy Lompoc Coalition Background – Originally formed as a Community Health Council in 2004 – Now a permanent community coalition representing many sectors; focused on improving the health of the community

Healthy Lompoc Coalition Healthy Kids Project – Funded by California Endowment – Focused on addressing Childhood Obesity Playable Parks Worksite Wellness School Wellness Policy SPARK Implementation in LUSD Community Outreach and Awareness

Healthy Lompoc Coalition What we learned: – Programs and projects aimed at improving community health would be more successful if our local policies supported them. – Our physical environment and infrastructure must be safe and user friendly. They must also support healthy choices and promote active living.

Healthy Lompoc Coalition To continue effectively: – Follow the best practices of organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and California Endowment. – We need local data to successfully implement environmental and policy changes.

Healthy Lompoc Coalition We realized that we need to assess our community and decided to perform the following assessments: – Walkability/Bikeability – Safe Routes to Schools – Community Food Access – Green Space – The Coalition received funding from California Endowment to assist with these assessments

Walkability/Bikeability Walkability and bikeability refer to how safe, user friendly and accessible walking and biking are in a neighborhood or a community.

Walkability To walk or not walk – that is the question.

Assessing Walkability/Bikeability We teamed up with consultants from California Walks and COAST. Provided them with local data and put them in contact with City Engineer Craig Dierling.

Walkability Members of the Healthy Lompoc Coalition on the September 24, 2009 Walkability Audit

Walkability - Findings Incomplete sidewalks Missing curb ramps

Walkability - Findings Cross WalksSignage

Bikeability Can you get to where you need to go?

Bikeability - Findings Lack of connectivity of bike lanes makes traveling around town a challenge for cyclists. – Parks – Shopping – Destinations North to South

Bikeability - Findings Bike Lane – an example of a Class II

Bikeability - Findings Bicyclist Behavior

Safe Routes to Schools

Safe Routes to Schools refer to how safe and accessible the school zones are for children and parents who walk, ride or drive to school.

Assessing Safe Routes to Schools We evaluated four schools and the neighborhoods within half a mile of the schools.

Safe Routes to Schools - Findings City Engineering

Safe Routes to Schools - Findings Pick Up/Drop Off Areas

Safe Routes to Schools - Findings Speed Limits

Safe Routes to Schools - Findings The Parent Impact

Community Food Assessment Fresh is best – if you can find it.

Community Food Assessment We chose to assess the availability of fresh produce for Lompoc residents. Our coalition members collected data from 22 food merchants in Lompoc: – Availability and variety offered – Accept WIC and/or SNAP – Location and store hours

Community Food Assessment

Lompoc has a wide variety of merchants selling fresh produce. Fresh produce is located within half a mile of most homes in Lompoc. Low income neighborhoods are often closest to these stores – within a quarter mile. Some bad news…

Community Food Assessment Fast Food is also located within half a mile of most homes in Lompoc. Ocean Ave. H Street

Community Food Assessment We are not a food desert. We need to promote the healthy food that we have locally. We need to educate our consumers about making healthy choices.

Green Space Good for you. Good for Lompoc. Good for the Environment.

Green Space

Green Space is considered areas within the city designated for outdoor enjoyment and recreation. Parks, sports fields, walking trails, hiking areas and other outdoor recreation areas.

Green Space

City of Lompoc is 11 square miles with over 500 acres of parks, recreation facilities and open space. Lompoc is approximately 7% green space. Accessible green space in Lompoc is closer to 5.7%

Green Space A priority issue in Lompoc is ACCESSIBILITY of green space for pedestrians and cyclists.

Moving Forward Develop a strategic plan to prioritize the environmental and policy issues that we plan to address.

Get Involved We need ongoing input from community members so we will develop working groups for each of the areas assessed. Working groups will establish, prioritize and make recommendations for the strategic plan that will improve the physical environment and create healthy policies.

Thank you.