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In 2010, the Cardiovascular Health, Physical Activity and Nutrition Section at the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) in partnership with Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan Coalition received a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support the passage of a state level complete streets resolution and future legislation. The funding is also intended to support efforts by local health departments to pass complete streets ordinances in their communities.
Michigan Department of Community Health is also contributing additional funding to the effort. Seven health departments were awarded grants of $12,000 a piece to support local complete streets efforts.
“Passage of complete streets ordinances will help insure that our communities accommodate all forms of transportation and not just automobiles,” said Lisa Grost, Public Health Consultant for MDCH. “Increasing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists and improving physical activity levels through active infrastructure is a win-win for Michigan communities.”
For the 2010 grant year, the following local health departments and communities have been awarded the ARRA-Complete Streets grant:
| Local Health Department | Community |
| Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion | City of Detroit |
| Washtenaw County Health Department | City of Saline |
| Ingham County Health Department | City of East Lansing |
| Western U.P County Health Department | City of Houghton |
| Marquette County Health Department | Marquette Township |
| Genesee County Health Department | City of Flint and City of Linden |
| Jackson County Health Department | City of Jackson |
Greenway Trail Will Ultimately Link Midtown Detroit to Downtown
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR Log (Press Release) – Apr 15, 2010 – Construction is underway on the Midtown Greenway, a four phase, two-mile greenway trail that will circle through Detroit’s University Cultural Center, Wayne State University and Medical Center and Brush Park districts.
Today at a press conference held at the Detroit Institute of the Arts, organizers officially broke ground to signify the start of the first of four phases of construction. When completed, the linked trails will provide eight miles of continuous greenways, enabling people to go from Wayne State University through the Eastern Market to the Detroit Riverfront.
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, through its GreenWays Initiative program, along with The Kresge Foundation, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus funds), Michigan State University Land Policy Institute, First American Title Insurance Company, SAFETEA-LU and Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) are providing the funding for the Midtown Greenway.
“We are honored to be part of the collaboration that is helping connect Detroit,” said Mariam Noland, president of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. “Today marks the start of another greenways project that will become another amazing addition to the city. We look forward to the Midtown Greenway becoming a destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts and local residents to safely travel and enjoy what our city has to offer.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Michigan Complete Streets Coalition partner Karen Kafantaris of AARP presents on Complete Streets at the Michigan Municipal League's 2010 Capitol Conference held April 13 -14 in Lansing.
A packed room of 100+ engineers, planners and politicians attended the Complete Streets workshop at the Michigan Municipal League’s 2010 Capitol Conference held April 13 -14, 2010 in Lansing.
The panel included John Switalski (D - Warren) who spoke on pending statewide Complete Streets legislation that he plans to introduce this spring. Nationally recognized walkability expert Dan Burden also joined the discussion, as did Lansing City Council Women Jessica Yorko who recounted Lansing’s recent citizen driven Complete Streets initiative which led to the adoption of the first Complete Streets ordinance in Michigan. Michigan Complete Streets Coalition partner Karen Kafantaris of AARP rounded out the panel as she made the case for why Complete Streets are essential to mobility needs of aging Americans.
Click graphic to enlarge
As published in the Detroit Free Press on April 8/2010.
Detroit is embarking on an ambitious plan to create bike lanes on roads across town, giving cyclists like Jon Koller designated space for riding as city leaders and community groups rethink street and land use in a shrinking city.
It’s a big change. Although the city is starting with about 30 miles in a handful of neighborhoods this year, there eventually could be as many as 400 miles of bike lanes in Detroit.
“I think it’s going to encourage more people to get out there and take biking as a serious form of transportation,” said Koller, 25, who lives in the city’s Corktown neighborhood and commutes by bike to Wayne State University, where he’s a doctoral student in transportation engineering.
Read the rest of this story at www.freep.com
Th
ursday, May 20, 2010
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saugatuck Brewery
2948 Blue Star Hwy.
Douglas, MI 49406
Disability Network/Lakeshore is hosting a series of events surrounding the theme of Livable Communities.
A panel will provide an overview of Complete Streets and help you understand how Complete Streets can make your community livable, vibrant and welcoming to all individuals. ASK THE EXPERTS!
Join us in celebrating the… 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Contact Kathryn Gillen at [email protected] with questions.
