Walkability Around an Elementary School in Bakersfield

Kern County, October-December 2022

Project Goal

  1. Citizen scientists focused on assessing environmental factors to improve healthy living behaviors and identifying potential strategies to promote healthier lifestyles.
  2. Improve walkability

Project Description

13 parents identified walkability improvements and safety for walking to and from school. 

Discovery Tool Guiding Question

  • What makes it easy or hard to walk to/around [this] elementary school?
  • Que hace que sea fácil o difícil caminar a/alrededor de la escuela primaria?

Insights

13 parents participated in 18 Discovery Tool walks and collected a total of 102 photos with accompanying rankings (positive or negative), and 101 narratives. Participants then engaged in community meetings to identify themes that emerged from the data, as well as key areas of improvement and strengths of the community. Then, community members generated several solutions from their data analysis.

  • Themes Identified
  • Walkability
  • Accessibility 
  • Physical activity access
  • Safety 

Strengths Identified: Areas surrounding the school offered appealing walking paths enhanced by landscaping and shade-providing trees

Identified Areas for Improvement: Lack of pedestrian-friendly streets to and from school

Solutions Generated:

  • Improvements in walkability through the use of speed bumps and pedestrian-friendly signage.
  • Repainting crosswalks
  • Paving sidewalks

 

Activities and Outcomes

During a meeting with parents and school staff, the citizen scientists expressed their concerns regarding challenges with walking to and from school and vehicle speed near the elementary school. Following this meeting, city officials indicated their intention to install speed bumps in proximity to the school.

People and Collaborators

Project Leads: 

  • CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California Cooperative Extension Kern County Facilitators 
    • Beatriz Rojas
    • Cecilia Ramos
  • CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California State Office 
    • Barbara MkNelly
    • Kelley Brian

 

Collaborating Organization:

  • CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Kern County
  • Local Elementary School
  • Stanford University
  • CalFresh Healthy Living, UC

Publications

Journal of Trauma-Informed Community Health, Nutrition, and Physical Activity: 2023 CFHL Forum Poster Book

This material was funded by USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Visit www.CalFreshHealthyLiving.org for healthy tips.

Our Voice Impact

"This experience has changed my life.  I see inadequacies everywhere I go as it relates to pedestrian access and safety.  I even stop [at] construction sites to remind them to be considerate of the handicapped in our community.  Thank you all so much for this awareness and empowerment to require change."

~ Pam Jiner, GirlTrek Advocacy Leader, Denver CO