This project aims to increase access to physical activity for children in the 27610 area of Raleigh through upgrades and expanded programming at an existing park. The park currently lacks amenities for children with disabilities and has limited operating hours. With funding, the park would receive equipment updates to improve accessibility and signage, extend its daily and weekly operating schedule, and offer monthly health education programs on weekends. Evaluations would assess increases in park use and participants' physical activity and nutrition knowledge to determine if the upgrades successfully encourage healthier behaviors in the local community.

1. A. Needs Statement
1) Approximately 19.2% of low-income children in Wake County are obese (Kids Count Data Center, 2009), with
physical inactivity being the greatest health risk factor and contributor for obese and overweight NC children (Be
Active North Carolina Inc., 2008). There is no park in the 27610 area of Raleigh that provides children with a fully
accessible, health education-focused playground. While the City of Raleigh’s Parks and Recreation Department lists
twelve (12) playgrounds in this area, very few accommodate all levels of physical ability.
Children with disabilities face additional challenges to engaging in regular physical activity and subsequently
maintaining a healthy weight. Children and adults with mobility limitations and intellectual disabilities are at
greatest risk for obesity, with 20% of children with disabilities 10 through 17 years of age being obese as compared
to 15% of children of the same ages without disabilities1
. Children with disabilities encounter unique obstacles to
engaging in physical activity. These include: physical limitations, lack of resources and transportation and lack of
accessible environments2
.
In the 27610 area of Raleigh, 8.15% of residents are currently unemployed and 68% of students are eligible for free
or reduced price lunches. Nearly eighty percent (78.8%) of the surrounding community is comprised of African
Americans (65.5%) or Hispanics (13.3%) (Source: Zip Data Maps, 2012). Living far from safe and well-equipped
parks is more than an inconvenience it is a contributing factor to obesity and associated diseases in low-income
communities of color3
.
To encourage regular physical activity, the Healthy Park will offer more convenient hours of operation and will
update equipment. Funding from the Endowment will 1) support the extended operating hours of the Park, 2)
provide updates to Park equipment, 3) assist the Park in meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance
standards, and 4) train Park staff members on ADA compliance procedures. The Alliance for Disability Advocates
in Raleigh surveyed the Park (which is close to being fully compliant) and gave recommendations for Park
improvements.
Adults who live near recreation facilities or have aesthetically pleasing places in which to be active, engage in more
recreational physical activity4
. While the goal is to increase physical activity in children, adults are the primary
sources of transport for these children to outdoor recreation spaces.
2) Through the collaboration between the Center and Human Services’ (HS) staff, the following steps have been
taken: a) identified service hours of nearby organizations when children might benefit from a visit to the Healthy
Park; b) identified times when HS’ clients might benefit from a visit to the Healthy Park; c) examined community
data regarding access to physical activity locations, unemployment, free or reduced price lunch rates, and family
demographics. The Project team ensures this project has not and is not currently being done in Wake County. The
collaboration has surveyed the 27610 area for health education-focused playgrounds suitable for all levels of ability
and found none.
3) This project is a priority as it will address the obesity problem in children through provision of a fully accessible,
health education-focused playground in the 27610 area. This will include extended hours of operation, updates to
equipment and ADA-compliant Park access.
4) The planning process involved surveying the targeted audience and area stakeholders to gauge interest in using
the upgraded Healthy Park. In a random survey of 22 parents awaiting Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) at the HS’
Building (across the street from the Healthy Park), 91% (20) indicated interest in bringing their children to the Park.
One parent reported that, because her bus route included the Building stop, she frequently heard children begging to
1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Human Development and Disability. (2011) Retrieved from:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/ obesity.html
2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Human Development and Disability. (2011) Retrieved from:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/ obesity.html
3
Yanez, E. and Muzzy W. (October 2005). Healthy Parks, Healthy Communities: Addressing Health Disparities and Park Inequities through
Public Financing of Parks, Playgrounds, and Other Physical Activity Settings.
4
Sallis JF, Kerr J Physical activity and the built environment. President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Research Digest 2006
(December); Series 7 (No. 4): 1-8.

2. visit the Healthy Park. Another survey of six daycare centers in the 27610 zip code area revealed that 100% of
centers (with more than 300 children) would be interested in bringing their children to the Healthy Park.
B. Project Description
1) The purpose of this Project is to increase the availability and accessibility of, and make the necessary repairs and
improvements to, the Healthy Park. The Healthy Park is a one-of-a-kind, health education and disease prevention
playground. Such attractions include a healthy choices maze, a nutrition climbing wall and arterial slides. This
Project will enable those of varying abilities to engage in regular, educational, physical activity.
2) This Project will address the identified community need, by providing a safe, fully accessible, playground at more
convenient hours of operation. This will encourage more regular physical activity for children regardless of ability.
Because the Center is adjacent to the HS Building, the Center’s health educators routinely deliver Health in the Real
World to families served at the HS Building. Staff members also promote physical activity and nutrition programs
and summer camp services to these families. One of the collaboration’s strengths is that this Project is a natural fit
with what is currently offered to underserved children and families at HS.
The following study determined that availability and ease of park accessibility is associated with higher levels of
physical activity among children and adolescents. In 2007, 2712 children in 20 randomly selected parks in Durham,
NC were studied to examine associations among individual, park, and neighborhood environmental characteristics
and children's and adolescent's park-based physical activity. Environmental features of parks were associated with
activity levels whereas neighborhood characteristics were not5
.
3) The target audience that will directly and indirectly benefit from this project includes, but is not limited to: HS
FNS clients and their families who receive services at the Building; the Center’s current and ongoing program
participants; residents of the 27610 area of Raleigh; and children with disabilities. Others include: the African
American Cultural Complex; the Ray of Hope Child and Adolescent Day Treatment Center; and local child-serving
organizations, churches and schools. The aforementioned organizations are in close proximity to the Center and
Building.
This Project will contribute to the Endowment’s mission of improving the health and well-being of underserved
children and youth by directly targeting FNS clients; children and families living below the poverty level; and
schools with a majority of students qualifying for a free or reduced price lunch. Located adjacent to the HS Building,
the Healthy Park is a natural extension of the current services offered to families waiting for appointments. At
check-in, clients are notified that their place in line will be held while they attend a class or program. Check-in will
serve as a location for marketing and advertising the Healthy Park to clients and will be the distribution and
collection center for appointment summons pagers.
Based on 2010 and 2011 Center data, this project has the potential to serve 10,000 The Center program participants.
There is also service potential for 31,134 households whose members receive FNS services at the HS Building and
9,783 households whose members live in the 27610 zip code.
4) The major activities associated with this Project include:
 Healthy Park Hours of Operation (August 2012 earliest)
a. Begin extended Park hours in 2012: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (April
through September) or sundown (October through March) and every other Saturday from 10:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
b. Rotate Project staff, open and close scheduling, beyond the Park’s current hours of operation
(Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Public programming may be available at the
Park depending on weather and schedules.
5
Park-Based Physical Activity Among Children and Adolescents. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. (September 2011) (Vol. 41, Issue 3,
Pages 258-265, DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.04.013)

3.  Healthy Park Repairs and Enhancements (August 2012 earliest)
a. Replace six (6) broken benches at the Healthy Park with six (6) perforated steel benches from
Playworld Systems benches made with PVC-Free Eco-Armor®. These new benches average a
38% lower carbon footprint and provide greater durability than the current benches. (The Center
has secured other funding sources for bench replacement.)
b. Replace three (3) currently inoperable Pulse Chime stations with new Chime and Drum Panels.
c. Update scientific facts and informational signage throughout the Park.
d. Include the LifeTrail Advanced Wellness System ® Wheelchair-Accessible Activity Panel (for
total body stretches.)
e. Include two (2) cement ramps for accessibility to the Center’s garden and the shaded picnic
area.
f. Level ground with mulch and gravel at the Park.
 Healthy Park Marketing and Programming (Upon completion of improvements)
a. Schedule HS and Center program (Health in the Real World) at the Healthy Park on the first
Saturday of every month to attract visitors during expanded hours of operation. Programs are
dependent on weather conditions and schedules.
b. Promote Healthy Park expanded hours of operation and enhancements via HS and the Center’s
websites and social marketing venues as well as printed materials. Staff from HS and the Center
will market to local schools, day care centers, apartment complexes, churches, community and
governmental organizations to encourage attendance.
 Healthy Park Project Evaluation
a. Should this grant be awarded, we will more fully develop an evaluation plan per Endowment
requirements with technical assistance provided by the New Perspectives Consulting Group. We
expect that our Project evaluation will identify which Park benefits were most successful and the
next steps toward Project sustainability.
5) Not applicable.
C. Organizational Information
1) This project fits with the purpose of our collaboration, as both the Center and HS are committed to serving the
residents of Wake County by providing resources and programs that meet their universal health and lifestyle needs.
Both organizations serve all residents regardless of age or ability and strive to increase access to critical educational,
preventative and support-related services.
The Center’s mission is to educate and empower North Carolina children, youth and their families to make choices
that increase positive health behaviors with a vision that all North Carolina children and youth become healthy
adults. For over 20 years, Center has provided health education programming to North Carolinians of all ages and
backgrounds. The majority of the Center’s curriculum aligns with the North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction’s Healthful Living Essential Standards and addresses the following health-related topics: physical
activity, nutrition and obesity prevention; general health and body systems; drug, alcohol and tobacco use
prevention; family life and reproductive health and responsibility; dental health; and bullying.
HS’ mission is to anticipate and respond to the public and behavioral health and the economic and social needs of
Wake County residents and to coordinate and sustain efforts that assure safety, equity, access and well-being for all.
HS is the consolidation of programs and services including social services, public health, mental health, job training,
child support, housing and transportation and is open to all Wake County residents.
2) The collaboration of Center and HS is uniquely positioned to provide underserved families with increased access
to the Healthy Park. Located adjacent to the HS Building, the Park’s proximity is optimal for clients/families
awaiting services at the Building. The Center currently uses the Park as part of an in-house program offering and has
allowed other organizations to use the Park for a variety of activities. This proposed work will be a direct extension
of the collaboration’s current amenities and offerings, and will be announced during regular community-wide
communications.

4. 3) The Center and HS collaboration’s capacity to do this work is as follows: the Center has seven (7) full-time staff
members and twelve (12) part-time Health Educators to assist with the Healthy Park’s extended hours of operation
and to facilitate programming related to physical activity and developmental play. HS has six (6) staff members [two
(2) exempt; four (4) nonexempt] to assist with the Healthy Park’s extended hours of operation and programming.
The Center currently has a relationship with an ADA compliance expert, Michael Atkins, at the Alliance for
Disability Advocates who has made recommendations for updates to the Park.
The following organizational assets that will contribute to the success and future sustainability of the collaboration’s
project include, but are not limited to: 1) both organizations’ long-standing, positive reputations in the Wake County
community with proven track records of providing universal health and prevention programming to underserved
residents; and 2) the collaborations’ strong relationships with other likeminded community, government and civic
organizations in Raleigh and Wake County.
4) The Center’s key partnering organization for this project is HS. HS will provide staff to help support the extended
hours of operation at the Healthy Park and will collaborate with the Center to promote programming at the Healthy
Park to clients and families in the 27610 area of Raleigh. This work depends greatly on the support and staff
resources provided by HS. It is a much larger entity than the Center and has access to additional staff resources that
would help balance the Park’s operational schedule. Further, HS’ clients and families have and will continue to
allow The Center to directly serve key decision-makers in underserved households. This project will maximize the
experience of HS’ clients and families and provide community members with access to important health-related
information.
5) The Center and HS co-authored and edited this proposal to ensure that information was effectively communicated
about the scope and resources needed to complete this project.
D. Consultant Description (not applicable)
E. Project Evaluation
1) By the end of this grant, the collaboration will achieve the following short-term outcomes: a) an increase in the
number of individuals who use the Healthy Park; b) an increase in the Healthy Park programming and the
distribution of educational, collaborative materials; c) an increase in the demand for Park use; and d) an increase in
participants’ physical activity and nutrition knowledge (collected from post program test data).
Data on the number of aforementioned individuals using the Park will be collected during the first month of the
project. This will be compared to ongoing attendance. A log will be maintained to record park programming and
distribution of educational collaborative materials. Depending on the length and nature of the program, post program
test data will be used to determine the percentage of individuals who report an increase in knowledge at the Park.
Qualitative surveys and comment cards will also be made available to participants.
2) This project will directly contribute to the following longer-term outcome: an increase in the reported amount of
time spent engaging in physical activity (and indirectly, a reduction in obesity for participating children.)
3) Throughout this project, the collaboration will ask the following questions about the process and project
outcomes: a) are the new hours of operation increasing community members’ access and use of the Healthy Park; b)
are Healthy Park programs and events effectively reaching the target audience (underserved children and families in
the 27610 area of Raleigh); c) are there any new methods of communicating with these community members to
promote the Park and it’s enhancements; and d) is this project increasing physical activity and nutrition knowledge
for the target population.
4) Our collaboration will periodically review Park attendance, participant feedback and program participation and
post program test data.
F. Project Finances
1) We respectfully request $36,874.00 from the Endowment for ADA recommended equipment updates to the
Healthy Park, and the costs associated with extended hours of operation.

5. The costs associated with the extended hours of operation include: the cost of opening and closing/locking the Park
to ensure safety and the integrity of our equipment (i.e. a reduction in the possibility of vandalism, etc.); the cost of
creating or ordering supplemental printed materials for the Healthy Park; and the cost of marketing the extended
Park hours, enhancements and programs. Costs for extended Park hours are minimal as compared to equipment
repairs, updates, marketing and program provision at the Healthy Park.
2) Staff for the extended hours will consist of health educators from the Center and HS personnel. Staff will be
trained by the Alliance for Disability Advocates on ADA compliance issues and by the Center on the procedures for
opening and closing the Park. Staff will be responsible for marketing the Healthy Park and for participating in the
evaluation process of this Project.
3) The Center will reimburse HS for Project staffing. The total amount of reimbursement will not exceed $1,500.00
for the term of the contract. The length of this project is dependent on equipment replacements and ADA-compliant
enhancements. Further, in consultation with Endowment staff, evaluation costs are included and estimated at
$3,750.00.
4) The initiation of this project is dependent on funding from the John Rex Endowment. While the Center can
extend the hours of the Healthy Park, blending staff will contribute to this pilot Project’s overall success in
determining future hours of operation and sustainability measures. Funding from the Endowment is therefore,
critical to this project’s future success.
G. Project Sustainability
1) The Center’s Board of Directors is comprised of thirteen (13) members who represent the American Medical
Society Alliance, State Employees Credit Union, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Rex UNC Healthcare, Duke
Raleigh Hospital, the Wake County Medical Society Alliance, and Advocates for Health in Action (AHA). The
Center is a member of and partner with AHA. Laura Aiken, former Director of AHA, serves as Advocacy
Committee Chair on the Center’s Board of Directors. All members are 100 percent committed to the mission, vision
and provision of informational tools that will help those in the target area make positive health choices. Ann Rollins,
Center’s Executive Director and its Board of Directors address the Center’s operational needs, program updates and
overall strategic direction on a monthly basis. HS functions via a 26-member consolidated Human Services and
Environmental Services Board. There are nine subcommittees, which report to the Board. The Public Health
Committee fully supports those strategies and special initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles, especially obesity
reduction efforts, one of the agency’s priorities. Communication via monthly meetings and subcommittee meetings
will keep HS informed of the Project.
2) The work of this project will be ongoing and adjusted based on the success of specific programming and hours of
operation, in order to better accommodate the needs of targeted families.
3) Not applicable.
4) The greatest expense of this project will be the initial equipment repair and maintenance costs. Educational
programming will continue through the support of individual and organizational sponsors and other grant
opportunities. Over time, the cost of this work will ebb and flow, depending on the need for Park equipment repairs
and updates. The cost of extended Park hours of operation and program provision will remain approximately the
same. This collaboration will incorporate volunteers from partner organizations such as 4-H, WakeMed and the
Wake Early College of Health and Science to support the expanded Park hours.
5) As the Project moves from implementation to maintenance, this collaboration will consider using volunteers from
affiliated organizations for expanded Park hours and educational programs. Every summer, the Center hires a
Meredith College intern, who is studying nutrition, and is able to provide Park programs.
*Names have been changed for confidentiality purposes.