(Herkimer County, NY – Aug. 2014) Herkimer County HealthNet has selected three trails and two playgrounds for improvements as part of the Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play in Herkimer County Grant.
Through an application process, municipalities and 501(C)3 non-profit organizations located in Herkimer County applied. The recipients, selected by the Herkimer County HealthNet Wellness Committee, demonstrated matching and/or in-kind contributions through collaboration with other community organizations, donated materials, and volunteer time.
The recipients and projects are as follows;
· Village of Dolgeville – Dolgeville-Salisbury Greenway Trail
· Village of Herkimer – Harmon Field Playground
· Town of Ohio – Municipal Playground
· Owen D. Young School – Robert Woodruff Trail
· Town of Webb – TOBIE Trail
Herkimer County HealthNet’s Executive Director said, “We are pleased with the response of communities that are continuing to make improvements to their playgrounds and trails. Not only do these environmental changes impact health, they also impact the quality of life and economic development in our area.”
Herkimer County HealthNet is a New York State Department of Health funded Rural Health Network that administers the Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play grant. Creating Healthy Places focuses on preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes by supporting and promoting environmental changes in Herkimer County. The five projects awardedsupport this by improving local playgrounds and trails, creating and enhancing spaces where families can participate in physical activity in fun and safe environments.
Since 2010, Herkimer County HealthNet has contributed over $250,000 to communities in Herkimer County that are investing in their parks, trails, playgrounds, and roadways for the purpose of creating and enhancing spaces for people to enjoy and to encourage physical activity.
Herkimer County HealthNet’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals who live, work, play, and learn in Herkimer County.