TULSA, OK – [April 23, 2018] – The Pathways to Health Built Environment Alliance Group will host an inaugural urban hike at Archer Park, 2831 East Archer Street, on Saturday, April 28 at 1:00 p.m. This ‘urban hike’ will be an approximately two mile walk around the neighborhood and will give participants an opportunity to observe and track things that make the area comfortable or dangerous to walk.
“It’s important to think about the small things in a neighborhood that are encouraging or discouraging residents to walk—this can have a huge impact on their ability to have an active lifestyle which can in turn promote healthier outcomes,” said Luisa Krug, built environment alliance group facilitator and Tulsa Health Department chronic disease epidemiologist.
Pathways to Health hopes to give residents and policymakers the chance to learn how making it safer to walk, bike or use public spaces could improve quality of life.
“Through these urban hikes, we provide participants with information on the city infrastructure, design of neighborhoods and access to transit,” said Mark Seibold, architect and city planner from Crafton-Tull. “We explore these topics in real-time so everyone can gain an understanding of the common issues faced by pedestrians, and will be more comfortable to advocate for changes that will make incremental improvements in our built environment.”
All participants who complete a ‘walkability scavenger hunt’ card during this urban hike will be eligible to win a gift card to a Kendall-Whittier business. Event organizers hope the success of this hike will lead to more Tulsa neighborhoods being assessed for walkability.
“I am so excited that several organizations are leading this initiative,” said Juan Miret, director of communications and community engagement, Growing Together. “Together, we can build a thriving and stronger community.”
The Built Environment Alliance Group is one of four task force groups working to address the priorities identified by the community in the 2017 Tulsa County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The overall goal of the three-year plan is to improve the health and well-being of Tulsa County residents. Most importantly, the CHIP addresses health equity issues and the social determinants of health: the conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play and worship.
# # #
Tulsa Health Department
Since its establishment in 1950, the Tulsa Health Department serves as the primary public health agency to more than 600,000 Tulsa County residents, including 13 municipalities and four unincorporated areas. The agency is one of two autonomous local health departments in Oklahoma, with statutory public health jurisdiction throughout Tulsa County and the City of Tulsa. THD’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of all Tulsa County residents, in order to make Tulsa County the healthiest county in the country. THD was among the first health departments in the U.S. to receive national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board. For more information, please visit www.tulsa-health.org.
Pathways to Health
Pathways to Health (P2H) brings together local, public, non-profit and other community health stakeholders to share ideas, increase synergies and complement each other’s strengths. P2H was formed by the Tulsa Health Department in 2008 in response to a challenge to decrease the overlap of health services and identify gaps where leaders are missing vulnerable populations. Today, P2H is an incorporated non-profit entity with more than 90 local health partner agencies with a vested interest in the health and well-being of Tulsa County residents. No single organization has the necessary depth of resources to improve community health, but P2H demonstrates the impact possible when everyone works toward the same goals. Visit www.pathwaystohealthtulsa.org to learn more.
