The Blue Island Model Community program is officially underway!
Model Community Coalition Kick Off
On May 25, BICDD and MetroSouth Medical Center (MSMC) combined efforts and launched a successful kickoff dinner.
Mayor Peloquin was on hand to welcome community partners and interested residents.
Diane Banta of the National Park Service updated guests on the Cal Sag trail development.
Melissa Buenger of PHIMC and Gita Rampersad of BICDD presented an overview of the Model Communities program which aimed to address obesity by promoting healthy communities and is funded by the Centers for Disease Control.
Guests were treated to a delicious buffet dinner and dessert bar catered by MSMC. Thanks to everyone who made this event a success!
Community Garden Updates
May also marked the launch of community gardening expansion project under the Blue Island Model Community program. Community gardens promote healthy communities and residents who participate in community gardening contribute to the preservation of open space, provide access to it, and create sustainable uses of the space. Community gardens strengthen community bonds, provide food, and create recreational and therapeutic opportunities for residents. They can also promote environmental awareness and provide community education.
Residents are encouraged to “adopt a plot.” A few plots are currently available at Memorial Park location. Our first new garden is targeted for the Blue Island Recreation Center - partners include BICDD, Tommy Brown Sports Association, UFB Urban Ag & Community Gardening Committee and Delta Institute. For more information or to get involved, please contact Jodi Prout.
June kicks off our Complete Streets project
The streets of our cities and towns are an important part of our communities. They allow children to get to school and parents to get to work. They bring together neighbors and draw visitors to neighborhood stores. In communities across the country, a movement is growing to “complete” the streets.
Complete Streets are streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a Complete Street.
States, cities, and towns are designing policies and asking their planners and engineers to build roads that are safer, more accessible, and easier for everyone. In the process, they are creating better communities for people to live, play, work, and shop. BICCD staff, the Active Transportation Alliance and members of our Complete Streets steering committee will attend an all day training at the Field Museum on June 21 to help with Blue Island’s Complete Streets policy-making.
For more information on the Blue Island Model Community Program and how YOU can make a difference in the community, please feel free to contact Gita Rampersad.