Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 1 Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) Keith and Connie Moore Pastors Abundant Life Ministries P. O. Box 134 Red Oak, NC 27868 Vernadette Garland Summer Intern North Carolina State University-Northeast Leadership Academy vvgarlan@ncsu.edu Grant Period: August 2012-August 2013 Total Cost of Grant: $8647.00 Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 2 Table of Contents Page 2 Project Summary Page 3 Project Description I. II. III. IV. V. Appendices Appendix A. Appendix B. Appendix C. Appendix D. Appendix E. Appendix F. Background and Significance Goals & Objectives Program Design and Methods Evaluation Design and Methods Sustainability Plan Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 7 References Biographical Sketches Budget Budget Justification Program Logic Model Timeline Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 3 Project Summary The children of Nash and Edgecombe County are not getting the sixty minutes of daily physical activity required to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The obesity rate for children is at 30 % and increasing. The push for 21st century life skills and the digital age has taken away from outside play. Most children spend hours in front of a television or computer instead of burning calories playing outside. The Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) will provide a place for children of Nash and Edgecombe Counties to obtain the physical activity necessary for a healthy lifestyle. The neighborhood park will be equipped with a basketball court, volleyball net, a painted hopscotch area, and a fenced in playground area for toddlers and school aged youth, and will be open to the public twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week. Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 4 Project Description I. Background and Significance Children in the United States are not getting enough physical activity. Video games, computers, cell phones, and the push for digital acceleration in schools has taken the place of good old fashioned outside play. Instead of engaging in physical activity, children spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media (Let’s Move, America, 2012). Kids are becoming couch potatoes, consuming too many calories, without engaging in activities to burn fat. America’s obesity rate is growing and starts as early as preschool, a time when children should be exhausted and healthy from playing outside. Among preschool children aged 2-5, obesity increased from 5.0% to 10.4% between 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 and from 6.5% to 19.6% among those aged 6-11 (Ogden & Carroll, 2010). This is a problem for America’s children and the children of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Obesity also comes early in Nash and Edgecombe counties: 30 percent of young children in the two North Carolina jurisdictions are obese or overweight before kindergarten (DEPC, 2012). To increase physical activity, today’s children need parks and playgrounds where they can play after school and during summer months. The role that a public park has in promoting and enhancing the physical activity level of children is greater than ever before (Henderson et al., 2001). Research shows that increasing access to recreation is an essential strategy for preventing childhood obesity and that park renovations can increase vigorous physical activity among children and can also increase use of playgrounds (National Recreation and Parks Association, 2012). Parks in neighborhoods that are safe and within walking distance to homes reduces the obesity rate and make children more fit (Fan & Jin, 2012), thus making Abundant Life Ministries an ideal location. Updating the existing community park at Abundant Life Ministries will provide a place for children of Nash and Edgecombe Counties to obtain the physical activity necessary for a healthy lifestyle and ultimately assist in reducing the obesity rate in this twin county area. Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 5 II. Goals & Objectives The goal of the Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) is provide a place for children of Nash and Edgecombe Counties to obtain the physical activity necessary for a healthy lifestyle. This goal will be met using the following objectives: o Objective 1: Church will purchase playground equipment for younger children and extra equipment for additional recreational activities by Summer, 2013 o Objective 2: Location will be mapped as a community park by the City of Rocky Mount by Summer, 2013 o Objective 3: Church leadership, advisory board, congregation, and community members will participate in a grand opening/community festival in July 2013 to advertise the park. The existing park is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, and has been mapped by the City of Rocky Mount as a target for a public park. The property currently has established outside activities, including a basketball court, volleyball net, and a fenced in playground area for older-school aged youth, which includes a painted hopscotch area. It is necessary to purchase playground equipment for children ages 1-5 to address the physical activity needs of this population. It is also necessary to purchase extra equipment for additional recreational activities, bolted benches and trashcans to provide a park-like atmosphere and opportunities for community members to selfmaintain property, while enjoying the grounds. When the Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) reaches fully functioning status it will be mapped by the City of Rocky Mount as a community park. Because of the location, church community, and neighboring citizens there will be an 85% increased exposure to a variety of organized team sports. Children will have around the clock access to the park and through participation and observation there will be a 65% stronger awareness of physical fitness. Through play and participation on teams, there will be a 70% increase in the application of positive character traits, social interaction and problem solving. Having a park on church grounds that presently sponsor festivals two times per year which serve over 1000 people from the community, including free food and games, will promote family participation during the events, increase church and community collaboration, and increase the number of children and families served by 90%. Daily, long-term participation in the Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALMCP) will reduce the childhood obesity rate in Nash and Edgecombe Counties which will ultimately lead to more success-oriented youth, improved healthy living, enhanced relationship skills, increased self-esteem, increase in community pride and strengthened neighborhood involvement, stronger family unity. Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 6 III. Program Design and Methods The Abundant Life Ministries Community Park will be established by taking the following steps: The first step in creating the park will be establishing an advisory board consisting of church leadership, and congregational and community members. This board will meet monthly from August 2012 to July 2013 to discuss the details of the park and grand opening. The initial meeting will be held in September 2012 to discuss and finalize the decision to purchase the playground equipment from Beyond Your Ordinary Playground Equipment, Inc., which has already been researched and determined to be the safest and most cost effective playground equipment, park benches, and heavy-duty trashcans. The second step will be purchasing the playground equipment that will be added to the existing fenced in area for the younger children. Additional recreation equipment will also be purchased or donated to further enhance the park. Third, the leadership and advisory board will meet with the Rocky Mount City Manager, Charles Penny to discuss getting the church location mapped off as a community park. Having the church grounds mapped as a community park will benefit the city, as the location is minutes for the newly renovated downtown Rocky Mount and is directly across the street from Braswell Memorial Library. Assignments and working days will be calendared at the October 2012 advisory board meeting to get the community park fully functional and permanently established. The fourth step will be advertising and marketing the park. December and January 2012 will be dedicated incorporating the park details into the current website and publishing a video for the stakeholders. Pictures will be taken and video footage obtained at unscheduled times. The video will be shown to the congregation and church stakeholders to promote use of the park. The church has already calendared a community festival for July 2013, which will also serve as the grand opening for the community park. March 2012 through June 2012 will be used to plan this event. The citizens of Rocky Mount and church congregation will have access to The Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) year round, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. The park will be fully operational with all recreational activities in place by Summer 2013. Since the park will be mapped by the City of Rocky Mount as a community park, no staff will be required to attend the park; however, the grounds will continue to be maintained by church members. Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 7 IV. Evaluation Design and Methods Monthly meetings and current weekly staff meetings will be used to monitor and adjust the community park, as the stakeholders deem appropriate. The Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) goals will be revisited by the advisory council during established meetings. This revisiting will review the park objectives, the status of the objectives, and any changes that need to be implemented. This information will be used to measure progress and serve as a basis for making program modifications or benchmarks of progress. Since the park is open to the public 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, it is hard to monitor the daily use of the equipment. In order to monitor the use of the public park, the leadership and advisory board will conduct a series of drive by observations at approximately six times per month. The church leadership will continue to register attendees at the annual community festivals to see how many people are utilizing the grounds. Students from the children’s ministry of the church and the annual summer camp will also use the playground equipment and recreational activities. In order to measure the effectiveness of the park, a baseline of physical activity among stakeholders will be established through a survey given to community and congregational members during the month of February 2012. V. Sustainability Plan The success of the Abundant Life Community Park will require the commitment of the church members to maintain the grounds. The grass will be cut regularly and the wood chips on the ground will be replaced on a regular basis by church members and church member donations. Other than landscaping maintenance, the playground area and park grounds are self-sufficient. The equipment will provide safe long-term recreation for children and hold up under through continuous play and weather conditions. Beyond Your Ordinary Playground Equipment meets the rigid playground equipment safety standards of the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The professional installers are Certified National Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI). The Beyond Your Ordinary Playground Equipment has a ten-year guarantee and will not need to be replaced until that time. The minor repairs that are necessary will be fixed by church leadership and congregational members. Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 8 Appendix A. References Active Living Research: Using Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Create Active Communities. (2012) Retrieved July 31, 2012 from http://www.activelivingresearch.org/files/ Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012) Retrieved July 31, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/ City Data. (2011). Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Retrieved July 31, 2012 from http://www.rockymountnc.gov Down East Partnership for Children (DEPC). (2012) Retrieved July 31, 2012 from http://www.depc.org/index.html Fan, M. & Jin, Y. (2012). Do Neighborhood Parks and Playgrounds Reduce Childhood Obesity Giles, E. (April 2, 2011). The Health Benefits of Parks: How Parks Help Keep Americans and Their Communities Fit and Healthy. Retrieved July 31, 2012 from http://www.eastshorepark.org/HealthBenefitsReport_FINAL Let’s Move: America’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids. (2012) Retrieved July 31, 2012 from http://www.letsmove.gov/ Ogden, C. & Carroll, M. (2010). Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, Trends 1963–1965 Through 2007–2008, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 9 Appendix B. Biographical Sketches BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH NAME POSITION TITLE Garland, Vernadette Vaughan Northeast Leadership Academy Fellow North Carolina State University EDUCATION/TRAINING INSTITUTION AND LOCATION North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC North Carolina Central University Elizabeth City State University DEGREE (if applicable) YEAR(s) M. A M.A. B.A. 2012 2005 1992 FIELD OF STUDY School Administration School Counseling Sociology/Criminal Justice Positions and Employment 2012 to present: Assistant Principal Intern, Winstead Avenue Elementary School, Rocky Mount, NC. 2010 to 2012: School Counselor, Hubbard Elementary School, Battleboro, North Carolina 2000 to 2010: School Counselor, Red Oak Middle School, Battleboro, North Carolina1992 to 2000: Juvenile Court Counselor, Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Rocky Mount, NC HONORS National Board Certified Teacher – 2009 Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 10 Appendix C. Budget Proposal Title: Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALMCP) Principal Keith and Connie Moore, Investigators Pastors : Vernadette Garland, Intern Expenses Itemized Budget BYO Beyond Your Ordinary Play Simple 1 www.byoplayground.com BYO Heavy Duty Recycled Park Bench 500.00 x 4 Annual Program Budget Budgeted Total Total Amount Donated Request $4690.00 $0 $4690.00 $2000.00 $0 $2000.00 BYO Trash Receptacle Kit - 32 Gallon 282.0 x 5 $1410.00 $0 $1410.00 SUBTOTAL: + NC Sales Tax (6.75%) $8100.00 $546.75 $0 $0 $8100.00 $546.75 FINAL TOTAL: $8646.75 $0 $8646.75 Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 11 Appendix D. Budget Justification 1. Toddler Playground Equipment $4690.00 BYO Beyond Your Ordinary Play Simple 1: 1 Slide, 1 Climber, & 2 Play Activities designed to help children develop socialization skills, self-confidence and physical strength. Designed in compliance with public playground safety standards (ASTM & CPSC). Meets ADA guidelines and allow inclusive play for all children. Play Simple structures have been designed for easy, cost effective installation. Comes standard with Surface Mounting (In-Ground Mounting available for an additional cost). This toddler playground will be an addition to the existing playground to add safety element for children who are not yet school aged. 2. Heavy Duty Recycled Park Bench $2000.00 BYO Heavy Duty Recycled Park Bench - Heavy-duty recycled park bench built from nine 2" X 4" Resinwood slats and an industrial grade aluminum frame. Its strong design is built for any outdoor environment. This bench is portable but the frame has holes included for a surface mount. Park benches will allow onlookers and parents to observe their children during outdoor play and add to the park feel. 3. Trash Receptacle Kit - 32 Gallon $1410.00 BYO Trash Receptacle Kit comes with a 32 Gallon plastic liner and with your choice of a Dome Top Lid or a Flat Top Lid with either a 14" or 8" inch opening.- 3/4" #9 expanded metal - All MIG welded unit - Portable - Stylish Tapered Design - Your choice of a Dome Top Lid or a Flat Top Lid with either a 8" or 14" top opening - Receptacle is available in a number of colors - Liner and Top are available in Black. Bolted trashcans to provide a park-like atmosphere and opportunities for community members to selfmaintain property while enjoying the grounds. +6.75 & NC Sales Tax: $546.75 Final Total: All items will be purchased from www.byoplayground.com.*** $8646.75 Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 12 Appendix E. Program Logic Model Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) Logic Model GOAL: The goal of the Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) is provide a place for children of Nash and Edgecombe Counties to obtain the physical activity necessary for a healthy lifestyle INPUTS Existing Resources OUTPUTS Activities Establish an advisory group to discuss needs and plans Basketball court and volleyball net. Purchase playground equipment and recreational activities for younger children and Community Park. Church members who volunteer to maintain grounds and current playground. Insurance through the church. Short Term (Years 1-2) Established fenced in playground for school aged youth. Hopscotch area for youth. OUTCOMES Level of Participation Get location mapped as a community park by the City of Rocky Mount. Incorporate the activities of the park into the organization’s current website. Create a video for the website to publicize the park. Community Support Create a survey for church members to establish a baseline for frequency of physical activity. Affiliation with the local Down East Partnership for Children. Organize a grand opening for the park inviting the community and stakeholders. Advisory board of 5 high-level community leaders; 4 leaders from the church. Advisory board of 5 high-level community leaders; 4 leaders from the church. City Manager for Rocky Mount. 1 Person designated as Webmaster for current website. Advisory board of 5 high-level community leaders; 4 leaders from the church. City Manager for Rocky Mount. 85 % increased exposure to a variety of organized team sports 70% increased application of positive character traits and social interaction 65% stronger awareness of physical fitness 80 % more practice in problemsolving 90 % increased parental involvement in recreational activities 90 % increased collaboration between church and community 80 % increase in number of children and families served Long Term (Beyond Year 2) Success-oriented, productive youth Improved healthy living Reduced crime, gang activity by providing families with a safe place to play Enhanced relationship skills Increased self-esteem Increase in community pride and strengthened neighborhood involvement Stronger family unity Better control of weight; stronger bones, muscles Abundant Life Ministries Community Park (ALM-CP) 13 Appendix F: Timeline Aug 2012 Establish an advisory group to discuss needs and plans June 012 Sep 2012 Initial advisory council meeting Oct 2012 Purchase playground equipment and recreational activities for younger children and community park. July 2012 Community Festival Nov 2012 Get location mapped as a community park by the City of Rocky Mount. August 2012 Dec 2012 Incorporate the activities of the park into the organization’s current website. Jan 2013 Create a video for the website to publicize the park. Create a survey for church members to establish a baseline for frequency of physical activity Feb 2013 Organize a grand opening for the park inviting the community and stakeholders. March 2012 April 2012 May 2012