When Healthi Kids asked the Rochester community why their children were not active outside, one of the most mentioned concerns was safety.  Whether referring to the speed of traffic or illegal activity on a street corner, parents and guardians worried their children aren’t safe when they go out to play.  As a grassroots campaign committed to making sure that all children have access to play, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency’s Healthi Kids launched a plan to address the concerns of the neighborhood and help create safer streets for both children and adults.

 
As part of the plan, Healthi Kids and the University of Rochester Medical Center’s (URMC) Center for Community Health brought a unique training to Rochester.  Last month, these organizations held the first of a two-part workshop on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and SafeGrowth.  Participants came from different parts of Rochester and represented a variety of agencies – the City’s Department of Recreation and Youth Services, Rochester Police Department, neighborhood groups, and private transportation and planning organizations.  The training was funded by the Centers for Disease Control’s HEART grant and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities grant.


 
Led by Greg Saville (police officer turned planner who specializes in CPTED and urban safety), each attendee learned the principles of CPTED and SafeGrowth, a training that will discourage or impede criminal behavior, and at the same time encourage honest citizens to keep a watchful eye.  After completing the first day, the class was divided into groups to work on a local project utilizing their newfound skills to improve neighborhood play spaces.  The SouthWest group is working together on #5 Flint Street warehouse.  The location is a connection point that links the east Riverway Trail at the University of Rochester with the PLEX Neighborhood and the Flint Street Community Center.  The team is made up of community residents, Rochester Police Department officers, and members of the City’s Department of Youth and Recreation Services.


 
The class and training leaders will reassemble in June to discuss each group’s project and findings.  After presenting, the groups will work with Healthi Kids to get their plan implemented in each neighborhood, which will provide more safe play locations and increase physical activity for all.

 
Healthi Kids believes that CPTED and SafeGrowth are crucial to creating a safe environment for children, adults, and neighborhoods.  It teaches participants to consider their surroundings and look for things that might be potential hazards.  Eventually, those who are trained in SafeGrowth and CPTED go on to teach others these skills, expanding the amount of eyes on the streets and increasing the safety of a neighborhood.  With increased safety, parents can feel better letting their children out to play, which is critical to a healthy and happy child.

 
For more information on CPTED, or to learn how you can increase safety in your neighborhood, please contact Minerva Padilla at (585) 224-3119 or minervapadilla@flhsa.org.