City of Greencastle awarded Active Living Workshop

The Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program (NEP) is partnering with Health by Design to present a series of workshops this fall designed to help Indiana communities become healthier — as well as more walkable, bikeable and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

The City of Greencastle is one of the recipients of the Active Living Workshop.

Community Wellness Coordinator Mindy Duckett submitted the application on behalf of the community, and the workshops were selected through a competitive process.

The two communities chosen to host workshops through fall 2017 are:

• City of Greencastle

• City of Lake Station

According to Purdue Extension NEP Director Melissa Maulding, these day-long Active Living Workshops will bring together government staff, civic leaders and advocates to network, learn about the benefits of active-living communities, and discuss strategies for success.

“We’re very excited to engage with Indiana communities in a new way,” Maulding said. “Since 1994, our NEP assistants have provided nutrition education lessons to youth and adults through schools and a variety of community groups, helping them eat better and move more.

“Now as our Community Wellness Coordinators work with Health by Design to bring these Active Living Workshops to Indiana communities, we’re looking forward to making an even bigger impact in local health.”

Each workshop will be tailored for the individual community and will build upon existing assets and projects already underway. Presenters will lead participants through various group exercises to identify active-living priorities. Other activities may include a walk audit to assess the safety and comfort of sidewalks and streets, mapping exercises designed to identify important destinations and access to them, and/or a streetscape visualization to show potential improvements to a key intersection or corridor.

“This workshop will demonstrate that healthy people and vibrant communities go hand-in-hand. Creating neighborhoods and public spaces that allow and encourage active living has vast benefits for everyone,” said Kim Irwin, executive director of Health by Design, a statewide coalition that works to create built environments that foster healthy living.

“If someone can easily walk to the grocery store or bike to work, for example, they’re more likely to do so, which is good for him or her as an individual, but also for the environment and the entire community,” Irwin added.

Throughout 2016-2017, the Nutrition Education Program and Health by Design have already awarded and conducted 15 Active Living Workshops in communities across Indiana and are excited to announce the addition of these two new workshops.

Denny Spinner, mayor of the City of Huntingburg, participated in the Active Living Workshop for his community that was held in October 2016.

“The Active Living workshop was an opportunity for us to bring together those in our community that are truly dedicated to improving Huntingburg’s quality of life,” Spinner said.

“We had a great day of discussion and activity that allowed us to explore some of the barriers we have in making our city more fit-friendly, while also identifying the things already in place that we are doing well. I came away with a clearer vision on how to integrate these issues into the city’s way of doing business, and energized by the community involvement that was included in all of the day’s events,” Spinner added.

For more information on the Active Living Workshop in Greencastle or to be involved in the planning, contact Mindy Duckett, community wellness coordinator, at 653-8411.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

Upcoming Events:

Oct. 12 -- Putnam 4-H Council, Extension Office, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 -- Extension Homemakers Week.

Oct. 24 -- International Night, York Automotive Community Building, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24 – Beef Barn meeting, York Automotive Community Building East, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30 – Putnam 4-H Junior Leader kickoff, 3G Bowl, 6 p.m.