Steps to a Healthier Cleveland

Steps to a Healthier Cleveland is a city-wide program designed to engage all Clevelanders to live longer, better and healthier lives. The program encourages physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco-free choices. These efforts are intended to reduce the burden of diabetes, overweight/obesity, and asthma in all of the Cleveland’s diverse neighborhoods.

The City of Cleveland Department of Public Health identified and grouped 14 leading community development corporations with neighborhoods that would benefit the most from the Steps to a Healthier Cleveland initiative. BBC was selected to deliver neighborhood-driven interventions to the Kinsman neighborhood. These interventions will encourage and teach residents how to make neighborhood improvements such as bike lanes, walking trails, community gardens, safe routes to school, and markets for fresh produce.

In the Fall 2007, BBC will be distributing new and exciting neighborhood maps that displays the positive assets in the Kinsman neighborhood such as Bridgeport Place at East 72nd and Kinsman Road, Marion Motley Playfield, located on Carson Avenue, and Zelma Watson-George Recreation Center at MLK Boulevard.  They will also include maps of four 1- to 2-mile Kinsman neighborhood walking routes with specific points of interest in and around the community. Please check back for downloadable versions of the neighborhood maps to be posted here.

Additionally, BBC is working with the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health and Safe Routes to School Coalition to develop safe routes for children who attend Anton Grdina K-8 school.  These routes will feature restriped crosswalks, new crossing lights, and additional crossing guards within a 1-mile radius of Anton Grdina. 

In 2008, residents will be given the opportunity to start and manage a community vegetable garden through the Ohio State Extension Summer Sprout program. Those who participate in the gardening will be able to select which fruit and vegetables they would like to grow and eat.