Two weeks after the county board turned down an opportunity to apply for funding for a Complete Streets community planning workshop offered by Smart Growth America, fueling an explosion of debate throughout the county, Kristin DeArruda Wharton, R.N., of the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic spoke with commissioners on December 17, 2013 about the active living initiatives the clinic has been promoting.
With Commissioner Sue Hakes absent, the board had declined the grant opportunity after initially supporting it because of concerns that Smart Growth America would pressure the people involved in the workshop to come up with a plan that might not represent the wishes of this community. Some community members took that to mean that the county board did not support the active living programs the clinic has initiated, including the Moving Matters project to create a plan for safe and accessible walking and biking routes for people of all ages and abilities.
Wharton told the board that since the Moving Matters program started six months ago under a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota grant, they have been soliciting feedback from community members on their thoughts and concerns in regard to transportation in Cook County. Other initiatives have been started through State Health Improvement Program (SHIP), Safe Routes to School, and Community Transformation grants.
Themes that are emerging after making contact with over 300 local residents include the following:
The Gitchi-Gami State Trail is widely used in all seasons.
Parents are looking for safe access for their children to playgrounds, schools, the library, after-school activities, and other common destinations.
Bicycling is on the increase throughout the county, raising concerns about bicycle/motorist safety and sharing trails with pedestrians.
Crossing Highway 61 is a huge concern throughout the county.
Seniors are concerned about safe crossings, snow removal, and accessibility to sidewalks and destinations.
DeArruda-Wharton said they are not promoting a specific agenda. Their agenda, rather, is to facilitate community input and promote health and quality of life.
Commissioner Garry Gamble, who shared his concerns about Smart Growth America at the December 3 meeting, spoke to the Cook County News-Herald after community members reacted to the board’s declining the grant opportunity. He said he has done a lot of research and read a lot of literature about a connection between Smart Growth America and the United Nations’ Agenda 21, an action plan for sustainable development. Gamble said he is concerned about individual property rights being compromised by outside agendas coming into the community through funded workshops. He said, “I do not want to establish a relationship with an organization that ultimately does not have our community’s best interests in mind.”
At the December 17 county board meeting, Commissioner Sue Hakes said she appreciated the amount of community involvement that has been sought as the programs have been carried out. She said she was disappointed with the board’s decision to decline the Complete Streets/Smart Growth America grant possibility but hoped they could accomplish their goal in another way. She said she would try to give the program more notification and time for discussion before changing course like they did with the grant.
Commissioner Garry Gamble said he appreciated their partnership with the community and their seeking a neutral facilitator for the Active Living Steering Committee meetings when it was needed.
The upcoming revision of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan in the Cook County Planning & Zoning Department will create an opportunity to discuss these issues and open up dialogue, DeArruda-Wharton said. “Who are we and where are we going?” she said. “We’re not afraid to get creative on that on our side.”
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