Public Health in Oregon - Join The Conversation

CHP Grant Helps Latinos Influence New Park in Odell, Ore.

By: NWHF Staff | Posted on: August 18th, 2010 | Share:
Categories: Disparities • Economic Issues • Grantee Reports • Public Health • Rural Health

Focus groups solicited Latino input for Odell Park

CHP grants are provided to communities that want to take action to improve health. If you want to host community meetings to brainstorm ideas and develop a plan for change, a CHP grant could help support flyers, publicity, and refreshments. In exchange, we ask that you document the meetings, tell us who attended, and share the results of the conversation.

Here’s some very exciting news that we heard from Jonathan Graca, of Hood River Valley Residents Committee (HRVRC), a local land use advocacy organization, who coordinated a recent CHP grant:

“Throughout Oregon,” Jonathan writes, “Latinos are challenged with weight issues. It’s estimated that 58% of Latinos are overweight, compared to 39% for whites. While the percentage of Oregonians who identify as Latino is approximately 10%, roughly one-quarter of the population of Hood River County is Latino.”

“The town of Odell is just five miles from the buzzing recreational hub of Hood River. It’s a small community of less than 2,000 people, 40% of whom are Latino. Odell currently lacks an important component to any community that wants to remain healthy and active: there’s no public park.”

Jonathan explained to us that In the absence of a park, many folks resort to walking the streets that have no sidewalks or shoulders. Many others don’t walk or exercise at all.

But help is on the way. Hood River Parks & Recreation launched the idea for a small park in Odell, but originally did not have much funding for public input.

As a result of funding from Northwest Health Foundation, and its CHP program, staff from HRVRC and from Nuestra Communidad Sana, partnered to engage Latinos to have a voice in the planning of the proposed park.

In addition, Fred Duckwall, owner of the Duckwall-Pooley fruit packing house, generously paid two shifts of nearly 50 employees each to become informed about the proposed park, provide input, and facilitate civic participation in the Latino community towards improving physical health through physical activity.

As a result of these conversations, Jonathan said, Hood River Parks and Recreation was armed with increased input and support to acquire funding.

Then, in July 2010, the Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation District was notified it would receive funds from Oregon State Parks for development of the new neighborhood park of 1.84 acres.

The park will include a sheltered sports court, play structures, an open play field, a fitness walking path as well as parking, picnic tables, benches and other park amenities.

Jonathan noted that even if the project hadn’t gotten funded, the process would have been a success.

“Less objective, but possibly more important, was the excitement many had in offering ideas about how to shape their built environment.”