walk B BY DOROTHEA HASS Our STEPS to Health LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT WalkBoston is beginning its third year of participation WalkBoston is a marvelous example of advocacy in the five-year “STEPS to a Healthier US” program. and civic leadership. With limited resources This program is being implemented through the Boston on hand, WalkBoston strives to make our o Public Health Commission [BPHC], which received the communities more walkable through efforts program grant along with 20 other governmental entities implemented at the grassroots level. Whether throughout the U.S. Each year the BPHC receives it is our “Safe Routes to Schools” program, approximately $2 million to implement a community- our advocacy for pedestrian-friendly traffic s based program to improve physical fitness, encourage signals, our STEPS program in the neighbor- residents to eat more nutritiously, and reduce the hoods, or our passion for a walkable incidence of obesity and asthma. The program is targeted Greenway, we create meaningful change. We toward residents of seven Boston neighborhoods: t are able to create that change because of the Roxbury, Dorchester, South Boston, Mattapan, Jamaica support and energy of you, our members. In the Plain, Hyde Park and the South End/Chinatown. 2005—2006 year we need your support even o WalkBoston has been working with the BPHC as a more, so that we can continue to improve the sub-contractor to create more “walkable” neighborhood quality of life in urban communities. Here are environments and to implement a “Safe Routes to the simple “steps” that you as members can Schools” program in elementary schools. take to enhance our success: n Along with neighborhood groups, WalkBoston conducts • Renew your membership if you haven’t walkability audits to identify a number of low-cost already. Join at a higher level than you’ve maintenance improvements to make neighborhoods more done before. Each dollar means more walkable. These improvements include: fixing broken direct services that we can provide. WALK lights, painting faded crosswalks, upgrading traffic [renew online at walkboston.org] MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES signalization, repairing cracked sidewalks, monitoring MORE WALKABLE • Encourage your friends, neighbors and col- trash collection, and implementing other low-cost leagues to join. You do them a favor because F ALL 2005 improvements that make walking environments safe, WALKBOSTON BOARD attractive and inviting. We are happy to report that the walking is a vital part of their life and they, like you, benefit from walkable communities. Gretchen Ashton City of Boston has been very responsive in addressing Chalita Belfield these improvements. WalkBoston looks forward to con- • Volunteer as a committee member or for David Black tinuing its work with neighborhood advocates to further our special events. We want your ideas, Betsy Boveroux/co-vice president personal activism and involvement. James L. Brantley III enhance walking conditions in their neighborhoods. Dan Breuer/treasurer • Identify corporations that may want to Patricia Courtney WalkBoston is implementing the Safe Routes to Schools support us. Many businesses are eager to Sherry Dong Tom Doolittle program at the Hurley School in the South End [Boston], improve the health of employees and their the O’Hearn School in Fields Corner [Dorchester] and the Nina Garfinkle families through walking and will want to Ann Hershfang Dever School in South Boston. Each school is working advance our goals. Beverley Johnson with WalkBoston to develop programs to educate stu- Karla Karash • Come to our fall “open house” on Nov. 15th dents about the health and safety benefits of walking. Peter Lee/secretary at my home at 48 Appleton St. in the South Liz Levin/president Key program initiatives include the “Walking School Erik Lund Bus,” sponsorship of “Walk to School” days and End and meet our Board and members. Frank Middleton “on-street” safety training. A Walking School Bus is a Daniel Moon I love giving my time, energy and passion to Bill Reyelt safe, fun and healthy way for children to travel to and WalkBoston because it is an investment in Duncan Sanger from school. Led by trained adult volunteers, children Erik Scheier/co-vice president walk in a group, joining up at prescribed meeting points. what I value—walking, good public trans- Phil Troped Along the way, children can visit with friends, learn portation, an inviting, safe physical environ- pedestrian safety skills and enjoy some independence. ment, livable communities and my health. COMMITTEES/CONTACTS Celebrate those values with me through your executive director Wendy Landman 617.367.9255 I’ll be leading a Fields Corner walk in February. Join membership and volunteerism in our special me and learn what neighborhood groups recommend operations manager organization. Robert Sloane 617.367.9255 for the redesign of Dorchester Avenue. advocacy Thank you so much! Tom Doolittle 617.923.7108 BY WENDY LANDMAN consulting Liz Levin 617.542.1253 Active Living & Social Equity communications Nina Garfinkle 617.424.9115 Recent national research indicates that the quality of Liz Levin fundraising the physical environment is one cause of health disparities Betsy Boveroux 617.598.8256 among different racial and socio-economic groups in the newsletter design U.S. The results of this research are groundbreaking in Nina Garfinkle 617.424.9115 highlighting the direct relationship between personal and sustain good walking conditions in urban commu- newsletter editor health and a good physical environment. WalkBoston’s nities. Our efforts include walkability audits [see STEPS] Beverley Johnson 617.522.7003 work with the Boston Public Health Commission is and technical support for neighborhood walking groups; safe routes to schools focused on neighborhoods where residents have elevated providing “Safe Routes to Schools” for Boston elementary Dorothea Hass 617.232.0104 levels of diabetes, asthma and obesity. One cause is schools; and developing “Walking Prescriptions” with walks Robert Sloane 617.367.9255 lack of physical activity—the focus of our effort. two neighborhood health centers. Walking Prescriptions would focus on promoting walking as a healthy activity WalkBoston will use this new information on the rela- and improving the physical walking environment in city tionship between the physical environment and health neighborhoods as a means to reduce neighborhood to develop strategies and programs to support, create health disparities. [continued] communities. environments that build vital build that environments create and preserve safe walking safe preserve and create and advocacy. Our mission is to is mission Our advocacy. and recreation through education through recreation for transportation, health and health transportation, for WalkBoston promotes walking promotes WalkBoston mission www.walkboston.org [email protected] [email protected] F: 617.367.9285 617.367.9285 F: T: 617.367.9255 617.367.9255 T: Boston, MA MA Boston, 02108 School Street School 45 Boston walk calendar read and weep money matters Feb. Date TBD Tues. Nov. 15, 5:30-7:30 pm Fields Corner—Walkable Neighborhood Boston is among the five most WalkBoston depends on local founda- Fall Open House Home of Liz Levin, Red Line/Fields Corner Station expensive cities to park your car tions for support. In early October, 48 Appleton Street, Boston for the day, according to the fifth we received a grant from a private Orange Line/Back Bay Station Join us on our walk in Fields Corner, annual North American Parking foundation to fund capacity building or Green Line/Copley Station a Dorchester neighborhood in tran- Rate survey by Colliers Monroe and operational support over the sition from a 1960’s Irish working Friedlander and Colliers International. next three years. This will allow us to Sat. Dec. 3, 12:00 noon class area to one more ethnically increase capacity to conduct outreach Stepping Out: Walk the Downtown and economically diverse. The survey of 48 U.S. markets and programs, maintain current programs Entertainment District 10 in Canada was conducted in June and continue advocacy efforts. The The focus is on cultural and land use Meet: Corner of Washington and identified the top five cities as grant will help broaden the number changes: the establishment of small and Avery Streets New York midtown [$41], New York of communities and individuals Vietnamese eateries, the conversion Orange Line/Chinatown Station downtown [$33], Boston [$32], that participate in and are served of Mickey’s Bar to upscale condos, Honolulu [$30] and Chicago [$25]. by WalkBoston programs. It will Mon. Dec. 5, 7:00 pm the re-built MBTA station and O’Hearn enable us to increase corporate WalkTalk: Paths in Portland, Oregon School SRS Program. Learn what Additionally, the survey indicated and individual memberships. by Phil Goff, Urban Designer the neighborhood recommends for that monthly parking rates nation- Meet: WilmerHale, 60 State Street, City improvements. wide went up 2.7% for reserved This is the second grant from this Orange or Blue Line/State St. Station spaces and 3.7% for unreserved foundation and reflects our effective Dorothea Hass, Project Manager for spaces and that at least 20% of use of prior funding and our strong Jan. Date TBD the STEPS grant, will illustrate a U.S. garages have a wait list with membership support. Every mem- A Walk in the Old West End neighborhood audit—measure an average wait of 3.3 months. bership dollar is vital in supporting Meet: Whole Foods Market, sidewalks and document any cracks, our advocacy efforts. We look forward 181 Cambridge Street, Boston time traffic signals and explain how Just more reasons to walk or take to hearing from all of you soon! Red Line/Charles-MGH Station to request needed improvements. public transportation. membershipapplication Greenway Update gSee our website for latest info and pictures of the proposed designs. Complete this form & mail along with your check made payable to: The Walking Environment and the WalkBoston, Old City Hall, 45 School Street, Boston, MA 02108.