A Healthy Kingston for Kids

A project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County (CCEUC) and several partners will lead 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. 

The initiative will almost inevitably reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in this diverse, low-income population, which in turn presumes to ultimately reduce adult obesity. To achieve the desired outcomes, the partnership has formed an Advisory Board made up of key partners and stakeholders in the community, to oversee the work plan and guide four focus committees.  The four focus committees and their plans for the first year are described below.   

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.

Safe Routes to Schools and Parks

This committee will form a GIS Community Mapping Team of adults and youth to map routes to schools and parks.  The committee will use the maps and data to identify priority non-motorized transport infrastructural or safety improvements.  They will also work with schools to organize a “Walk to School Day” in October and to establish “Walking School Buses” for routes to at least four schools in the city proper. 

Complete Streets

The primary task of this committee is to draft a Complete Streets policy that the City of Kingston’s Common Council can adopt.  Members will assess barriers to Complete Streets in Kingston and outreach to the public to generate support for the policy. 

Community and School Gardens

This committee’s primary objective is to proliferate community and school gardens throughout the city.  Members will work with community members, parents, teachers, and youth to obtain access to resources for the construction and practical use of gardens.  The committee will also work to develop local produce markets in walkable distance from Kingston neighborhoods in the form of farmer’s markets or increased access to local produce at corner stores. 

Healthy Afterschool Snacks

Members of this committee will work closely with the school district and afterschool programs to change the food available to youth during the afterschool hours.  They will develop nutritional and cultural criteria for afterschool snacks, write a model healthy snack policy to be adopted by institutions in Kingston, and assist institutions to make changes in practices. 

If you are interested in volunteering on a committee or as a short-term volunteer for one of our data collection or community projects, you can contact Kristen Wilson, Project Director at 845-340-3990 or kew67@cornell.edu.

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  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: kingstonlandtrust@yahoo.com

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