TITLE
Recommendation to request Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine to develop a 9th District Open Space Master Plan focused on creating more park and green space throughout the district in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services and the North Long Beach HEAL Zone Initiative.
DISCUSSION
In 2012, the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) received a $1 million, three and a half year Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Zone grant from Kaiser Permanente to promote the public's health in targeted areas of North Long Beach, specifically in the 9th District. The HEAL Zones are designed to help make healthy choices accessible to more people in underserved communities, and in turn to prevent diseases such as diabetes and heart disease that often result from obesity.
To address the need for more park space in the 9th District, one of the priority activities in the North Long Beach HEAL Zone Community Action Plan is the creation of a districtwide Open Space Master Plan. The development of a formal Open Space Master Plan would enable the City to apply for funding to implement the plan in a targeted manner, and increase the amount of active space. within the 9th District.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Open Space Master Plan will be paid for with HEAL Zone grant funds and District 9 discretionary funds.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT