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MAY/JUNE 2014

Get Moving with Cobb2020

Hospital Expansions to Better Serve Cobb The High Price of Low Morale STEM to STEAM Health

Get Moving to a Healthier Cobb

By Jacqui Frasca

obb County recently ranked sixth on County Health lion parks bond voted on in 2006, the county’s parkland has been Rankings’ 2014 Healthiest County list, close behind enhanced in quality and quantity, with the acquisition of more than Forsyth, Gwinnett and Fayette. Beyond the metro area’s 300 acres of greenspace. Cobb’s well-used and much-loved parkland many amenities, healthier dining options and superb coincide with the county system, featuring 30 that will take Chospitals, Cobb offers its residents a well-rounded community com- you from Nickajack and Noonday creeks to Kennesaw Mountain, the plete with outdoor recreation options that help keep people moving Chattahoochee River, Trail and beyond. and inspire them to stay active all year long. The metro area is no stranger to strong, athletic company. Of the 220,000 total acres of land in Cobb, more than 90 percent Organizations such as the Lawn Tennis Association and is developed. For an ever-growing county, economic expansion Atlanta Track Club inspire newcomers and long-time residents alike benefits the whole community, but expansions leave undeveloped to be a part of something bigger than themselves and strive to be land hard to find and even harder to afford. Thanks to the $40 mil- active year round. But with the development of the intown Atlanta

16 Cobb in focus MAY/JUNE 2014 Jay Dillon, Cobb2020 chair; and Dr. Jack Kennedy, Cobb2020 vice chair. Photo by Todd Hull Photo by Todd

BeltLine trails and initiatives like Cobb2020 and Bike Cobb bring- ing vice chair of the initiative. “We are excited about having com- ing more awareness to the benefits of biking and being more active pleted a thorough community health needs review to determine throughout the day, more residents are opting to move more and our strengths, opportunities and learn what our residents want,” bike and walk to work, taking control of their transportation and Kennedy says. “We have developed plans to reach the goals. We are health while enjoying all the area has to offer. working to expand access to low-cost physical activities and improve the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the county.” Getting Active with Cobb2020 One of their largest programs, involving area schools, is the Power Cobb2020 is a community health partnership involving more Up for 30 program, which provides an additional 30 minutes of than 20 key agencies, working tirelessly to improve access to care physical activity to all students throughout the school day. “Our and healthier lifestyles. Dr. Jack Kennedy, the district health director hope is that families will continue this even after school lets out for of Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH), serves as the found- the summer. Our parks, schools and churches offer a safe and con-

Cobb in focus MAY/JUNE 2014 17 Health

venient way to be active, right here in our community,” says Kennedy. One major partner of Cobb2020 is Walk , a program sponsored by the University of Georgia to help residents develop regular physical activity habits as well as get more physically fit and healthy. After signing up, users log their minutes of physical activity each week, virtually traveling across the state of Georgia discovering inter- esting facts about each county “visited” and learning new ways to improve their health. This spring, Cobb2020 kicked off Walk Cobb by aiming for 50,000 miles. Fall 2013, Cobb users logged more than 29,000 miles during the first local event. Schools, businesses and community organizations are encouraged to form teams to monitor program rankings, adding a fun competitive edge to being more active. Check online at cobbinfocus. Cobb2020 is a benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma com/happening-in-cobb for updates on how Society. “At the time, I was naive enough to the county did. community health think that I could go do training rides on my According to the Centers for Disease bike on the streets of east Cobb at low-traffic Control and Prevention, physical activity can partnership times, like early Sunday morning,” Burr says. help not only control weight but also reduce involving more than “I was appalled by how rude the motorists the risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 dia- were, even with infrequent traffic on the betes and some cancers; strengthen bones 20 key agencies, road. So, when I heard about a person start- and muscles; improve mental health; and ing a bike advocacy group in Cobb County, I increase chances of a longer life. Some working tirelessly to joined hoping to change my bicycle experi- low-cost activities Cobb2020 advocates are improve access to ences. I attended the first meeting, which to go swimming in one of the county’s four led to the formation of Bike Cobb.” In addi- indoor aquatic centers open year round, care and healthier tion to bicycle advocacy work, Burr is one take up tennis with friends on one of the of the co-captains of the Coca-Cola Cycling county’s 122 courts and their programs and lifestyles. Club, helping form teams for several of the to enroll your children into “Toddler Time” local charity rides, and she formed a new or Girl and Boy Scout workshops in the cally active throughout the day,” Kennedy company called Southeastern Cycling Tours, Cobb County parks. The county parks and says. “Generally, Cobb County has a very LLC to lead rides on the Silver Comet Trail recreation department also offers nature moderate climate, allowing us to be outside all the way to Cave Springs and Anniston, education programs at several parks around for most of the year. Walking, gardening, Ala., leading tours down the entire length of the county, while residents 50 and older may cycling, throwing a Frisbee with your chil- the Natchez Trace. join WellStar’s The Good Life Club to learn dren or visiting a local park are all ways that As one of the organizations in the coali- to live better, healthier and more active lives adults and children can be healthier and tion advocating “Connect the Comet,” Bike with friends, classes, screenings, day trips and more active.” Cobb has additionally helped local bike opportunities to travel. shops lead beginning cyclists, who turn out Kennedy also aspires to be as active as Cobb’s Biking Lifestyle for bike shop rides to introduce residents to possible even when working; during the May is National Bike Month and June is riding on the Silver Comet Trail. “We have workweek he spends between 30 and 60 Great Outdoors Month, two initiatives that also helped bike shops with special event minutes walking on his office treadmill and help inspire people all over the world to get rides and we have worked with Women Bike makes an effort to walk around the CDPH outside and active despite their demanding Atlanta, which has a beginner ride on the campus each afternoon on his lunch break. schedules. With an abundance of trails ideal Silver Comet once a month,” adds Burr. Eric His favorite way to get active is escaping for pedestrians and bicyclists alike, one thing Mortensson, store manager of Silver Comet to the North Georgia Mountains in his Cobb has no shortage of is activity enthusi- Cycles, believes there’s a growing interest in free time to hike and enjoy the trails with asts. Celeste Burr, president of Bike Cobb, Cobb’s biking community that will continue friends and family. “Through both Cobb & eats, sleeps and breathes bicycle advocacy. to grow as future bike-friendly infrastructure Douglas Public Health and Cobb2020, we She fell in love with cycling while training for is added and developed. “I think Cobb are encouraging residents to be more physi- a triathlon in 2003 with Team in Training, County is actively promoting getting out and

18 Cobb in focus MAY/JUNE 2014 “The Silver Comet Trail is Cobb County’s shining example of a great place to ride bikes for recreational purposes.” —Celeste Burr, president of Bike Cobb being active with the amount of parks they safe route to commute on their bikes, Burr Comet Trail, does see more commuter activ- have available and the current and future encourages them to do so more often, not ity. Other popular trails in Cobb County are multi-use path systems they have in place, only as a great way to exercise, but also at the mountain bike parks. Blankets Creek not to mention the sports complexes and as a stress reliever that helps the environ- is another very popular place for cyclists and aquatic centers available to Cobb residents,” ment and cuts down on car traffic. “The their families to ride.” he says. Silver Comet Cycles focuses on fit- Silver Comet Trail is Cobb County’s shining When asked if an increase in bicycle ness and recreation, but will help anyone set example of a great place to ride bikes for rec- commuting in the county is realistic, Burr up a commuter bike as well. reational purposes, but until we get a com- says the attitude of the local government While biking has become an increasingly plete connection on the Atlanta side, not as becoming more bike-friendly has made a popular pastime in the county on weekends, many commuters use it as we would like,” big impact. “Getting the three-foot passing commuting by bike needs an extra push she says. “The Atlanta BeltLine, because it is law enacted in Georgia in 2011 has made to increase popularity. If residents have a in a more commercial setting than the Silver motorists more aware of cyclists and so

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Cobb in focus MAY/JUNE 2014 19 Health

when riding my bicycle on the road, it does each month to shake up my routine.” This week more than 20,000 commute trips in feel like a more friendly environment since year’s Bike to Work Day is May 16. metro Atlanta happen on a bicycle,” Carr cars are not ‘buzzing’ me as much,” she One of the goals of the Georgia Commute says. “Many communities throughout metro says. “Look at the bike lanes on Johnson Options program, administered by The Atlanta have taken notice. For example, in Ferry Road, Lower Roswell Road, the new Clean Air Campaign, is to motivate more Cobb County there are plans to connect cycletrack in Atlanta, etc. I think that in weekend bike enthusiasts to carry their pas- the Silver Comet Trail to the network of the next five years, our ability to commute sion over to the weekday commute. “Cobb Atlanta trails, including the BeltLine. There safely on our bicycles will greatly improve commuters can earn cash and rewards for are also planned trail improvements in the as a result of the more bicycle-friendly road trying alternatives to driving alone, such as area around the Galleria.” Several Cobb plans, bike lanes and bicycle paths which are bicycling,” Carr explains. “Many of the trails workplaces have introduced bike-friendly being developed.” Mortensson adds, “We are in the county are geared around popular projects, such as the bike share program at slowly seeing more bike lanes and bike paths destinations like Kennesaw Mountain, the the Wildwood Center managed by CBRE, being added as they get finished, and more Chattahoochee River Recreation Area and, offering access to bikes and helmets for interconnected people will feel safer riding of course, the Silver Comet Trail. While commuters to venture out at lunchtime or in the metro Atlanta area. A lot of current most think of these trails as weekend destina- run errands. Other workplaces are explor- ing partnerships with fitness centers to give cyclists a place where they can clean up One of the goals of before work, an incentive sure to increase the Georgia Commute the amount of bicycling commuters. Getting on your bike more often does Options program, more than keep you fit, explains Carr. The environmental benefits are significant and administered by The immediate; half the smog-forming emissions in the region are from tailpipes. Opting to Clean Air Campaign, bike to work or to run errands can make is to motivate more a big difference in the quality of air we breathe. And of course, “A more physically weekend bike active county is a healthier county,” Carr says. “The average adult can burn 200 calories in enthusiasts to carry a 20-minute bike ride, and while you’re out their passion over to exercising, bicycling is a social activity that can bring people together. There are scores the weekday commute. of bicycle clubs around the region, includ- ing Bike Cobb, offering a forum to connect bicycling enthusiasts. For me, riding my roads don’t have enough shoulder area or tions, they can also be useful to connect to bike has been a great way to reconnect with bike lanes to make people feel safe.” other routes for trips to work.” Carr explains nature. I see more of the change in seasons. that because more than half of Cobb’s resi- When I am on my bicycle, my morning ride Your Health, Georgia’s Clean Air dents travel beyond the county borders to helps invigorate me to take on the chal- Brian Carr with The Clean Air Campaign work, bicycling has historically been a less- lenges of the workday, while my afternoon had not pedaled a bike in 10 years before than-popular choice for commute options. ride affords me the opportunity to slow the campaign organized the region’s first- “However, Cobb County Transit buses are down and relax.” ever Bike to Work Challenge in 2012. “A equipped with bike racks, making a com- The average worker burns 100 less calo- co-worker recruited me to join a team at bined bike/transit commute an attractive ries a day when compared to 30 years ago, the office and compete in the month-long option for many commuters looking to cut meaning that every bit of extra activity we event, so I decided to try it out, riding from down on their costs and get more exercise,” can muster each day will start to add up. my house to the train station and taking the he says. “By riding to a bus stop and taking When it comes to keeping Cobb active, it’s train in to work,” Carr recalls. “That experi- transit the rest of the way, you can signifi- all about finding opportunities in your day ence opened my eyes to the benefits of exer- cantly expand your range.” and routine to reclaim the time of your day cise that had been absent from my schedule, Positive changes around the county for that used to be devoted to physical wellness. saving money on gas, the importance of bicyclists are popping up all the time, mak- Gather a group of your co-workers for a walk being visible to motorists and the satisfaction ing it more convenient than ever to com- after lunch, bike more than just on the week- of proving to myself that I could leave my car mute during the work week or in your off end and watch your small actions turn into a in the driveway for the entire day. After the time, for trips large and small. “You might big difference—for you and for the county. Bike to Work Challenge ended, I have con- not realize it, but more than one in four car For a list of health resources in Cobb, visit tinued biking to the train station a few times trips are less than one mile, and that each cobb2020.com. n

20 Cobb in focus MAY/JUNE 2014