Shape Up Somerville: City on the Move

5th Annual Weitzman Symposium: Let’s Get MovingJune 10, 2010

Shape Up Somerville:Shape Up Somerville: City on the MoveCity on the Move

5th Annual Weitzman SymposiumLet’s Get Moving:

Innovations and Outcomes in Obesity Prevention and TreatmentJune 10, 2010

Joseph A. Curtatone, MayorSomerville, Massachusetts

Who we are

Somerville Demographics

Population 78,000Race/Ethnicity

African American 7%Hispanic 9%Asian 6%

Density 18,780 residents/mi2 Open Space 5.37%Per Capita Income $23,628Poverty Rate 12%Speak language other than English 36%Main languages: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese


Shape Up Somerville

Shape Up Somerville is a city wide campaign to increase daily physical activity and healthy eating through programming, physical infrastructure improvements, and policy work. The campaign targets all segments of our community, including schools, city government, civic organizations, community groups, businesses, and other people who live, work, and play in Somerville.


Why Shape Up Somerville?

•Sound public policy

•Governing with a long term vision

•Healthy communities are productive communities

•Improved quality of life for all residents

•Reduced health care costs


Community Based Intervention:

• Engaged 90 teachers in 100% of 1-3 grade classrooms • Participated in or conducted 100 community events• Trained 50 medical professionals (MDs, RNs)• Recruited 21 restaurants • Educated 811 families through 9 parent newsletters• Reached 353 community partners through 6 community

newsletters • Reached over 20,000 community members through a

monthly media piece (11 months) • Recruited every community-based after-school program (14) • Developed community-wide policies to promote and sustain

change


Measuring Our Success

I. First Year Results:• In 2003, 46% of Somerville’s 1st-3rd grade students were

overweight, or at risk of becoming overweight.• On average, SUS reduced approximately one pound of weight gain

over eight months for an eight-year-old child.

II. Somerville Middle School Students 2003-2007• Moderate physical activity increased from

18% to 27% • 2 hours or less each day spent watching

TV or videos increased from 54% to 61%

II. Somerville High School Students 2004-2006• Moderate physical activity increased

from 16% to 21% • Vigorous physical activity increased from 48% to 54%


Comprehensive Plan:

What is a comprehensive plan?

A vision of what a community wants to become and the steps needed to achieve that vision.

Rooted in factual current and historical data.

Requires cornerstone components, established in Massachusetts General Law.

Includes an extensive process of community involvement that will shape the Plan and put it into action.

The Comprehensive Plan:Analysis of Trends

Vision for the FutureGuidance/Direction/Protection


Transportation Challenges• Lack of Rapid Transit – three commuter rail lines and two transit lines divide Somerville, but only one stop is located within city limits

• Transportation Infrastructure as a Barrier – Two raised highways, heavy rail, and a maintenance facility divide the city.

• Congestion – dense network of streets and residential neighborhoods leads to overburdened key intersections and business districts.


Transportation Improvements: Transit• Seven New Green Line Stops – two located within economic development sites; five integrated into neighborhoods.

• Assembly Square Orange Line Stop – will serve largest smart growth, mixed use project on eastern seaboard.

• Dramatically Increased Access – 85% of city will be within ½ mile of rapid transit and bus service will be realigned to complement rail stations.


Transportation Improvements: Infrastructure

Community Path Extension - combined pedestrian/bike path will run length of city along Green Line rail.

Traffic Calming - raised intersections. bumpouts, and improved signage.

Bike Lanes - developing cross-town grid

Major Roadway Projects - feature reduced travel lanes, expanded sidewalks, increased tree canopy, and street furniture.


Redeveloping for Smart Growth: Assembly on the Mystic

Future Main Street in Assembly Square

Future Mystic River Park / Esplanade

• 66 acre brownfield site• 2,100 Residential Units• 1.75 M Square Feet of Office• 1.07 M Square Feet of Retail• River Front Park• Bike Path and Ped Amenities • Orange Line Transit Station


Planning for Smart Growth: Union Square

Building a foundation for Smart Growth

Zoning Upgrade•Increased density around proposed Green Line transit station •Incentives for Green Buildings•Requirement for Usable Open Space•Design Standards that support Pedestrian Oriented first floors

Transportation Study (on going)

•Expand Public Plaza•Promote walkability with wider sidewalks•Bike lanes and bike amenities


Built Environment:Open Space and Recreation

Somerville’s Public Parks & Open Spaces are Intensely Used.

• The City of Somerville is 4.1 square miles.

• Total public open space is 141 acres or 5.37% of the city.

• Only 45% (63.52 acres) of the public open space is owned by the City of Somerville. This includes parks, school playgrounds, fields, cemeteries, and other open space lots

• The City manages 46 parks, playgrounds, and ball fields for residents


Built Environment:Open Space and Recreation

WHAT: Five-year strategic action plan on record with MA Division of Conservation Services

WHY: Used to secure certain state grants, and serves as a public record of City open space data, goals, and strategic vision


Built Environment: Open Space and Recreation

Open Space and Recreation Plan Goals

•Renovate existing parks and open spaces to improve condition of Somerville’s recreational areas and ensure attractive, safe, and accessible public lands.

•Secure more land to expand Somerville’s total open space acreage and ensure access to open space in every neighborhood.

•Analyze and improve access for persons with disabilities to parks and open space, as part of ongoing ADA compliance.

•Increase tree canopy and green spaces to promote urban health and sustainability, and reduce the heat island effect.

•Increase Off-Leash Recreational Area (OLRA) opportunities throughout the city, and create a new skate park.

•Raise the bar for sustainable design and building practices in city parks and open space projects.

•Reduce brownfields and convert to more desirable uses.

•Improve accountability and set departmental vision through a series of strategic planning documents.


Cycle Kids: Bike Safety and Education

Cycle Kids

•2010 pilot program in five elementary schools.

•All elementary schools will participate in 2011.

•Provides children with the skills and confidence to become lifetime cyclists. •Children learn how to ride a bike, road safety skills, bike mechanics and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.


Healthy Foods In Our Schools

• School Food Service follows Massachusetts Action for Healthy Kids Guidelines. Emphasis on lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy.

• Produce is sourced locally when in season.

• No trans fat.

• No fryolators.

• No competitive foods or a la carte foods.

• No vending machines.


Healthy Foods In Our Schools

Four Somerville Schools Are Certified as USDA HealthierUS Challenge Schools.

Our schools are the only schools certified in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts!


Healthy Foods In Our Community: Shape Up Approved Program

Shape Up Approved is a healthy restaurant program designed to help customers identify healthier options when eating away from home.

Healthy menu items receive the Shape Up Approved stamp of approval. Healthy meals follow the criteria listed below:

Leaner meatsWhole grainsFruits and vegetablesLow fat dairyHealthy cooking oils

Point of purchase signage encourages customers to take half of their meal home and to ask for healthy substitutions for their favorite dish.


Healthy Foods In Our Community:Farmers’ Markets and Community Gardens

•Two summer markets

•9 CSA drop off sites

•Summer markets accept WIC coupons and will accept EBT/SNAP this year

•2011 Winter Farmers’ Market

•8 Community Gardens


Does a Policy and Environmental Approach Really Work?

Yes!

Research has found that if you create a healthier environment, healthier behavior will follow.

Here’s an example from Somerville:Researchers from the Institute for Community Health have found that proximity to recreational spaces in

Somerville increases the likelihood that middle school students will meet moderate and vigorous physical activity guidelines. The article, titled The role of recreational spaces in meeting physical activity recommendations

among middle school students, has been submitted to the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.


Community Response

Here Are Examples of What We’ve Seen in Somerville:

Renovated Parks

Street Upgrades + Bike Safety & Education

Access to Healthy Foods


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcICQPKzgSQ

• Strong and committed leadership at department, executive, elected, and community levels

• Proven commitment to evaluation processes, reporting, and using data to make decisions

• Demonstrated experience in working with racial, ethnic and socio-economic diversity in Somerville

• Small and walkable city• Innovative and supportive academic, health

care, and business partners

How we’ve done it


How we’ve done it: Program Team and Key Partners


“ What's going on there in schools and homes all over the city is nothing short of a revolution. ”

– ABC News

The Power of Partnership: Shape Up Somerville Steering Committee

“ What's going on there in schools

and homes all over the

city is nothing

short of a revolution.

”

– ABC News

Mayor Curtatone (Chair)Community Action Agency of SomervilleEast Somerville Main StreetsGreen Streets InitiativeGroundwork SomervilleInstitute for Community HealthMass Farmers’ MarketsMetro Pedal PowerSomerville Board of AldermenSomerville Board of HealthSomerville Chamber of CommerceSomerville Communications DepartmentSomerville Community CorporationSomerville Community Health AgendaSomerville Department of Public WorksSomerville Health DepartmentSomerville Local FirstSomerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development

Somerville Police DepartmentSomerville Public SchoolsSomerville Physical Education DepartmentSomerville Recreation DepartmentSomerville School CommitteeSomerville School Food ServiceSomerville School NursesSomerville SomerStat DepartmentSomerville Traffic and Parking DepartmentSomerville Transportation Equity PartnershipSomerville WICSomerville Youth DepartmentState Representative Denise ProvostThe Welcome ProjectTufts UniversityUnion Square Main StreetsWalkBoston


Shape Up Somerville:Major Sources of Funding

•Federal Grants

•State Grants

•The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Active Living by Design

•Tufts University and the CDC (2002-2005)


Let’s Move!

•Four Pillars: Healthy Choices, Healthier Schools, Physical Activity, Access to Affordable and Healthy Food

•Based on Shape Up Somerville model

•We’re all in this together

•So Let’s Move!


Shape Up Somerville: City on the Move

Technology

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