Success Story - Walkaround Guide
April 2006
Describe the related Annual Action Plan activity
Walking Map of downtown Vancouver area beginning at Vancouver Farmer's Market
Author & Community
Kristine Perry, Youth and Community Coordinator
Community Choices
Clark County Washington
Steps cost, or resources used
$25,836.13
In-kind, or community contribution
$124,452
Partners
City of Vancouver
Vancouver Clark Parks & Recreation
Clark County
Kaiser Permanente
Clark County Health Department
American Heart Association
Southwest Washington Medical Center
Vancouver Housing Authority
Dryke & Associates
Citizens representing people with disabilities
Faith based community
Multiple employers in Clark County School Districts
Walking clubsDisease and/or Risk factor
Obesity and Diabetes
Date
4/28/06
Description:
The Steps to a Healthier Clark County Active Community Environments Team that focuses on
building and supporting environments to make it easier for the people of Clark County to be
physically active is composed of individuals representing trails, parks and recreation, health care,
people with disabilities, transportation, walking clubs, cycling, and city/county government.
Using the Center for Disease Control’s Guide to Community Preventive Services as a reference,
this Community Team placed a high priority on creating and improving access to places for
physical activity combined with informational outreach activities. Several members of this
Team served as advisors and participants in the recently completed 20-year Trail and Bikeway
System Plan for Clark County. While the 20-year plan was being finalized, the team identified
the need for an information tool on walking, trails, and health. A portable user-friendly
publication with 25 walking areas (Clark County Walkaround Guide) was designed and printed
for the community. One of the major health system partners that support healthy livable
communities provided the funding to print 50,000 maps (one for every Clark County household).The goals of the Clark County Walkaround Guide are:
To increase the health of county residents by:
- Making information about community trails readily available to Clark County residents;
- Increasing walking and biking on community trails, especially among people who:
Engage in little or no physical activity;
Are at risk for obesity and diabetes;
Are obese and /or have diabetes;
Have limited resources.On April 6th, 2006 the Walkaround Guide was launched at a media event where Clark County leaders signed off on the 20 year Trail and Bikeway Systems Plan and showed support for and encouraged a healthy livable community. At this event, there was also a celebration of Lewis & Clark leaving the Clark County area to begin their journey back east. Prior to this event, the local TV station completed an interview on the Guide and the importance of trail planning for communities. Multiple newspaper articles were also produced over the period of one week. The above “launch” event was also filmed by the local TV station and has been airing periodically.
Marketing and evaluation plans were developed with Steps partners to distribute the Guides.
Guides are intended to be limited to one per household, with the target populations receiving
priority. Partners requesting a supply of the Guides were asked to submit a distribution plan
describing how they would reach targeted populations, support community/agency policy
change, encourage individuals or groups to use the Guide, and provide evaluation feedback.
Organizations will be required to complete a brief evaluation on a quarterly basis, identify ways
to obtain individual feedback from recipients with whom they have ongoing contact and direct
individuals receiving the Guide to complete an internet survey.
