A Healthy Kingston for Kids

A project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County (CCEUC) and several partners are leading an initiative to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in Kingston, NY through environmental and policy change.  The project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with $360,000 over four years.  Partners include the City of Kingston, the Kingston City School District, the Kingston Land Trust, the Community Heart Health Coalition, Gilmour Planning, the Rose Women’s Care Service, and the Ulster County Health and Planning Departments.

At less than 3 miles across at its widest point, Kingston is potentially a walkable and bikeable city.  It contains ample greenspace where gardens can be located and is surrounded by bountiful farmland that can provide residents with locally-grown produce. Our initiative proposes to: 1) make non-motorized transport accessible to children throughout the city for traveling to schools and parks, 2) proliferate community and school gardens and access to local produce through small, evening farmer’s markets or corner stores, and 3) provide healthier snacks to children during the afterschool hours at school, in afterschool programs, and at school sports events.  The partnership envisions a Kingston where complete and safe streets make walking and biking an irresistible way of life and food systems are in place that encourage children to eat affordable, healthy foods on a regular basis. 

Visit www.healthykingston.org for up to date information about each of the four project areas!

Safe Routes to Schools and Parks

Complete Streets

Community and School Gardens

Healthy Afterschool Snacks

Why Kingston?

• Kingston’s median income is 19% below the state’s level.
• 19.6% of our residents have incomes below the poverty level compared to 14% of the state’s residents.
• 26.5% of children in Kingston are living below the poverty level.
• Poverty can lead to childhood obesity.
  
• Of first and third graders in the Kingston City School District: 

                16.6% were at risk of becoming overweight,

                21.7% were overweight

                5.7% were extremely overweight.

In sum, 44% of Kingston City children are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

This compares to a 33% rate of children elsewhere in the county.

2010 Newsletters 

February

March

  Committee Contact Information

Project Director

Kristen Wilson

A Healthy Kingston for Kids
4-H Youth Development
Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County
10 Westbrook Lane
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 340-3990 work phone
(845) 340-3993 fax

kew67@cornell.edu email

Safe Routes to Schools and Parks Committee

Kristen Wilson - Chair: kew67@cornell.edu

Steve Noble - Vice Chair: snoble@kingston-ny.gov

School and Community Garden Committee

Julie Noble - Co-Chair: julielnoble@kingston-ny.gov

Arthur Zaczkiewicz - Co-Chair: aaz25@cornell.edu

Complete Streets Committee

David Gilmour, AICP - Chair: davegilmour@hvc.rr.com

Healthy Afterschool Snack Committee

Laurie Deutsch Mozian - Chair: lmozian@kingstonhospital.org

Complete List of Project Partners