Sistrunk Corridor DOTMOCRACY SUMMARY

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Maude McCormick
5 years ago
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DOTMOCRACY SUMMARY The TOUCH initiative is a true collaborative working with multi- sector community organizations and agencies to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, improve access

To inform the development of the Community Action Plan, a Walking Assessment, which included a Walking Audit and Dotmocracy exercise were conducted in the Community Zone.

Lauderdale) representatives of the Healthy Community Zone focus areas, provide an experiential learning opportunity on how the environment impacts health, and gather information about the walkability

1 DOTMOCRACY SUMMARY The TOUCH initiative is a true collaborative working with multi- sector community organizations and agencies to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, improve access to healthy foods and beverages, increase opportunities for physical activity and build connections to programs for preventing and managing chronic diseases ( To inform the development of the Community Action Plan, a Walking Assessment, which included a Walking Audit and Dotmocracy exercise were conducted in the Community Zone. This event was the first public presentation of the Healthy Community Zone concept and description of the four TOUCH focus areas. The purpose was to inform the community and (Ft. Lauderdale) representatives of the Healthy Community Zone focus areas, provide an experiential learning opportunity on how the environment impacts health, and gather information about the walkability of the neighborhood to inform the development of the community action plan. The intent is that many more community events will use the Dotmocracy process and materials to continue to gather community feedback. Time: Wednesday August 5 th at 8:30 am 12:00 noon Location: L A Lee YMCA 408 NW 14th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL Number of Attendees*: 67; 27 Professional Staff (primarily City of Ft. Lauderdale); 40 Community Members *only represents those that signed in, others were present and participating Process: The Dotmocracy exercise was conducted during registration. Participants were asked to answer how desirable the featured picture was for their neighborhood. Professional staff were asked to answer based on the feedback they have heard from residents they serve in the neighborhood. Facilitator instructed participants to vote on their voting sheets by placing a dot beside each picture indicating how desirable or important that feature is to their community (Green = very; Yellow = somewhat; Red = not important). Facilitator also introduced the open- ended questions at the bottom of the board or posed additional questions. Participants chose to answer privately on the back of their sheets or write them on post it notes and stick them on the boards to generate conversation. The following pages show the features that were presented in the Dotmocracy and a summary of the participant feedback.

2 Sistrunk Corridor HOW DESIRABLE IS THIS FEATURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? (42 Respondents) Green (G): Very Much Yellow (Y): Somewhat Red (R): Not At All Covered bus stops with benches to rest Very Much: 40 Somewhat: 2 Not At All: 0 Bike lanes on the streets Very Much: 33 Somewhat: 4 Not At All: 5 Safe cross walks at busy intersections Very Much: 35 Somewhat: 4 Not At All: 3 Shade trees along with walking paths Very Much: 33 Somewhat: 9 Not At All: 0 SUMMARY OF PARTICIPANT RESPONSES The community has high utilization of transit. The covered bus stops are of high importance to community for sun and rain protection and rest while waiting for the bus. Enhanced bike lanes are desirable because of existing heavy bicycle usage. Currently bicycles use the sidewalk, even when a striped bike lane exists, because of safety. Striped bike lane along Sistrunk is insufficient because of the high speed of vehicles. The lack of crosswalks to safely cross Sistrunk creates significant jaywalking and pedestrians running out in front of traffic. Where crosswalks exist, crossing signals are too short to allow successful crossing of wide, busy street. Area surrounding NW gardens features elements that community would like to see implemented throughout neighborhood.

3 Policy, System, and Environmental Change Recommendations: 1. Enhance infrastructure to support walking a. Clearly marked crosswalks at frequent intervals along Sistrunk Blvd b. Signal lights timed to allow safe crossing for all users 2. Enhance infrastructure to support bicycling a. Protected bicycle lane b. Bicycle racks 3. Enhance facilities to encourage convenient and pleasant experiences while riding and waiting for transit. 4. Implement Safe Routes to School programs to comprehensively address safe options for students to commute to school through Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Encouragement and Evaluation strategies. 5. Facilitate connecting local revitalization campaigns, (connect upgrades in physical environment to the ongoing economic development efforts throughout CRA revitalization efforts). 6. Enhance built environments to increase opportunities for physical activity and connect neighborhood assets, particularly parks, through complete streets design. 7. Expand and enforce the Safe Paths to Safe Places, a Safe Paths to Safe Places is a strategy developed in the L A Lee YMCA community action plan in conjunction with the Housing Authority of the City of Ft. Lauderdale to connect neighborhood assets such as parks, housing communities, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, schools, and businesses. By linking the assets together through Safe Places signage and continuing to focus on connecting them together with safe pathways for pedestrians to travel, the neighborhood can access more services. Further, the Safe Paths to Safe Places framework fosters collaboration between community assets and creates a "no wrong door" process where community members are referred to appropriate services within the network of Safe Places.

4 Sistrunk Corridor HOW DESIRABLE IS THIS FEATURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? (40 responders) Green (G): Very Much Yellow (Y): Somewhat Red (R): Not At All Safe parks for children to play Very Much: 38 Somewhat: 3 Not At All: 2 Exercise programs or spaces for adults Very Much: 30 Somewhat: 8 Not At All: 4 Gardens where you can grow your own food Very Much: 29 Somewhat: 10 Not At All: 3 Places where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables that others grow Very Much: 35 Somewhat: 7 Not At All: 0 Neighborhood stores that sell healthy foods Very Much: 36 Somewhat: 6 Not At All: 1 Less advertising for unhealthy food Very Much: 21 Somewhat: 16 Not At All: 4 SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY RESPONSES High interest in places to purchase healthy foods, but low or only moderate interest in growing own food. High interest in safe parks for children to play. Empty lots currently used by children need to have trsh removed and broken glass cleaned. Interest in programming for older adults, but emphasis on social programs rather than physical activity.

5 Some interest in limiting the amount of unhealthy food advertisements in community. Low knowledge of NW Gardens Community Garden to residents outside of that property. Community members interested if they could access/purchase the fresh produce. Low knowledge of the L A Lee Community Garden.

6 Policy, System, and Environmental Change Recommendations: 1. Create Joint Usage Agreements among community assets to increase safe places for play, exercise, and socialization. Examples of assets include neighborhood parks, school, and faith based organizations. 2. Establish knowledge of healthy food options through implementation of the Go, Slow, Whoa curriculum in programs. 3. Support schools within the Healthy Community Zone in adopting Go, Slow, Whoa labeling and curricula. 4. Support network of Good Neighbor Stores to increase offering of healthy food options through: a. Technical support to establish Go, Slow, Whoa labeling system in store b. Coordinate Good Neighbor Store network and connect to local vendors of fresh food c. Connect Good Neighbor Store to law enforcement efforts to decrease loitering and crime surrounding neighborhood stores. d. Incorporate the Good Neighbor Store program into the Safe Paths to Safe Places system. 5. Establish healthy vending policies for all Healthy Community Zone parks. 6. Establish healthy food policies for park and school programs and events. 7. Expand connections between existing NW community garden and L A Lee YMCA community garden and residents for food purchase.

7 HOW DESIRABLE IS THIS FEATURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? (43 Respondents) Green (G): Very Much Yellow (Y): Somewhat Red (R): Not At All Rules that prevent smoking in public spaces or apartment complexes Very Much: 22 Somewhat: 15 Not At All: 6 Signs that say Young Lungs at Play and encourage no smoking Very Much: 23 Somewhat: 13 Not At All: 5 More support for people who want to quit using tobacco Very Much: 33 Somewhat: 8 Not At All: 1 Less tobacco adverting directed at children and teens in your neighborhood Very Much: 26 Somewhat: 10 Not At All: 5 SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY RESPONSES Community responses see need for reduced tobacco, but are far more concerned about drug usage. Smoke Free multi- unit housing policies are of interest to community.

8 Policy, System, and Environmental Change Recommendations: 1. Using the safe places for children language, establish smoke free parks and school policies within the Healthy Community Zone. Language of policy and signage should include both tobacco and drugs. 2. Using the safe places for children language, establish smoke free multi- unit housing within the Healthy Community Zone. Language of policy and signage should include both tobacco and drugs. 3. Implement a SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) chapter

9 HOW DESIRABLE IS THIS FEATURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? (43 Respondents) Green (G): Very Much Yellow (Y): Somewhat Red (R): Not At All Programs that help you prevent or manage chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure Very Much: 37 Somewhat: 3 Not At All: 2 A doctor s office where you have a specific doctor or nurse that you see regularly Very Much: 32 Somewhat: 10 Not At All: 1 A medical facility with evening and weekend office hours Very Much: 38 Somewhat: 3 Not At All: 1 Affordable medical care Very Much: 41 Somewhat: 2 Not At All: 0 Access to mental health services Very Much: 34 Somewhat: 7 Not At All: 1 SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY RESPONSES Strong need for all medical services. High need indicated for affordable medical care. High need for chronic condition care and prevention. 7 th Ave Clinic (Broward Health) cited as most utilized health care provider. Expressed need for more.

10 Policy, System, and Environmental Change Recommendations: 1. Expand the established Joint Usage Agreement partnership between the Housing Authority of Ft. Lauderdale and the YMCA of South Florida to provide strategies and services to prevent and manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis. a. Expand the Diabetes Prevention Program, Living Healthy program, and EnhanceFitness programs (all evidence- based strategies) b. Implement or expand the Community Health Worker presence at community assets such as parks, schools, and faith based organizations. Connect these front- line leaders to the Communities of Promise and City of Ft. Lauderdale leadership teams. c. Continue to recruit, train, and hire local residents to serve as leaders of these programs. 2. Expand the established Joint Usage Agreement between the City of Ft. Lauderdale and the YMCA of South Florida. a. Offer Diabetes Prevention Program as a benefit to City of Ft. Lauderdale employees. b. Expand chronic disease prevention and management program offerings at city parks. 3. Perform outreach and provide education to increase use of preventative clinical services. a. Continue and expand support to critical outreach events and social experiences for older adults. b. Continue to connect health services to social experiences.

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